Date:27/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/27/stories/2008062756441900.htm

Sport - Cricket

Gala mood in view under watchful eyes

Karachi: India versus Pakistan.It can’t get bigger than that. The crowds that stayed away on Tuesday and Wednesday finally trickled in to the National Stadium and the Asia Cup finally crackled into life. The stadium with an official capacity of 35,700 filled up fast.

Cricket was back on the centre-stage but more than that the all-pervading security blanket became thicker in its layers.

“Security has always been high here and it gets more when you have big matches like the one now against India.

“It will be the same during the Champions Trophy. The entire nation is keen that the world understands this, there has been too much media hype on security concerns,” said an event management official associated with the Pakistan Cricket Board. — Principal Correspondent.