ECB To Review Pakistan's 'Security Arrangements' Ahead Of England's Test Tour
Updated - 10 Nov 2022, 05:11 PM
The ECB is scheduled to evaluate security procedures in Pakistan prior to the Test squad’s visit later this month.
While all signs are that the tour will go ahead, the ECB’s security adviser, Reg Dickason, is scheduled to return to Pakistan soon to assess how the security situation has altered in the aftermath of the attempted assassination of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
During a protest in the northeastern city of Warzirabad, roughly 60 miles from Lahore, Imran’s convoy was shot at, resulting in one fatality and at least ten injuries. Imran, who led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup, suffered a non-life-threatening lower leg injury.
As a result of the attempted assassination, more people are calling for elections and some members of Imran’s party are blaming the government of trying to intimidate him.
Mark Wood acknowledged a little disquiet about the circumstance among the England team a few days ago. The Test team’s captain, Ben Stokes, has since stated that Dickason will actually be in charge of making the decision to travel.
“Obviously what happened there last week was a bit of a shock to see, But we’ve currently got Reg Dickason out there,” Stokes said.
“He’s been the main [security] man for England for many years now. In my opinion, he’s the best man to be out there to assess the situation.”
Dickason is expected to travel to Pakistan shortly: ECB
An England representative then stated that Dickason is not currently in Pakistan. He is in Australia, where he will be in charge of the arrival of the ODI players tomorrow. However, he is likely to travel to Pakistan shortly after that.
Dickason has visited Pakistan recently, but not after Imran’s assassination. He is now likely to return earlier than previously scheduled.
Over the past 25 years or so, Dickason, a former Melbourne police officer, has established a reputable security firm (ESI Risk). He has been with the ECB for more than ten years and had a key role in the 2016 decision to tour Bangladesh under tight security. Stokes and company obviously put a lot of faith in him.
“We have the best security officer in the world in Reg Dickason trying to find out information for us, Whatever Reg says, the players and the ECB will listen because he knows exactly what he is doing,” Stokes continued.
England hasn’t embarked on a Test tour of Pakistan since late 2005 due to security concerns.
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