Delhi will host ODI as scheduled

Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit announced in New Delhi that the sixth and final one-day international between India and Pakistan would be held at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground in the capital on April 17 as scheduled and all the "co-ordination problems" would be sorted out.

She announced this at her residence on Friday morning after a high level meeting with Delhi and District Cricket Association President Arun Jaitely, Central government representatives, Police Commissioner K K Paul and MCD Commissioner Rakesh Mehta.

Dikshit said the state government was standing firmly behind the DDCA and would go all the way to help them hold the match.

"The Centre, the Delhi Police or the Municipality will pose no hurdle to the holding of the match here.

"To say that the match cannot be held because of security problems is wrong. If there are any concerns they will be looked into. In case of MCD clearances, whatever has to be done we will do," Dikshit said after the meeting.

'Security no problem for Delhi ODI'

On Thursday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had directed National Security Adviser M K Narayanan to speak with Home Minister Shivraj Patil to intervene in the matter after Arun Jaitley, the DDCA president, expressed reservations over hosting the match.

Jaitley will hold a meeting with DDCA officials to seek the necessary security clearances.

 "We told the CM and other officials of our difficulties and they gave a very positive response. I will now keep all the points in front of our Executive Committee and it would decide the further course of action."

If the problems regarding Municipal clearances and security considerations were solved we would surely hold the match in Delhi, Jaitley said.

He said they have also sent a detailed report about their difficulties to the BCCI.

On the concerns on the seating capacity for the match, he reiterated that 30,000 spectators could be accomodated on the match day, against the earlier capacity of 26,000.

The Union Home Ministry issued a statement saying security will not be a problem for the Delhi ODI last evening.

The Prime Minister was hopeful of sorting out the problems in conducting the ODI , sources said. They said the PM was keen to meet Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf in Delhi.

Musharraf is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on April 16 and will watch the match with Dr Singh on April 17.