Event Notes: Cricket Australia Officials In Security Talks

Australian high-performance chief Pat Howard and the team's head of security have traveled to the site of the second Test, Hyderabad, "for meetings on player safety following bombings that killed 12 people there last week." The second Test venue "was thrown into doubt" last Thursday after two bombs were exploded near bus stands about 10km from the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Indian media reported that security for the Test "would be increased significantly" (THE AGE, 2/27). ... The Indian sports ministry overruled the Sports Authority of India's decision not to clear the Indian men's field hockey team's trip to the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup with a "stern warning" to Hockey India not to overshoot its budget in the future. The sports ministry's decision came minutes after HI withdrew the team after the SAI "refused to pick the airfare tab for the tournament" to be held in Ipoh, Malaysia March 9-17 (IANS, 2/26).