New Delhi, Feb 14: The PCB today welcomed the Indian government's decision to allow the cricket team to tour Pakistan as per schedule and reiterated their assurance of making it an incident-free series. Pakistan Cricket Board's media manager Samiul Hasan told a television channel here that with all speculations regarding the tour having ended now, both the teams will be able to concentrate on the game better. ''The PCB is optimistic and convinced that there will be no untoward incident during the series,'' he told a news agency. Mr Hasan added that the PCB had extended the maximum security guarantees to the three-member BCCI panel, which is on a tour to study the security situation in Pakistan, and that they were satisfied with it. Asked if the Indian players would be allowed to roam about freely in Pakistan, he said, ''we are not going to put any embargo on the movement of Indian players. We have ensured their safety at all levels. However, they (the players) will have to inform the security officers one hour prior to their departure time about the destination they would want to visit.''

On whether this security issue would translate into an on-field pressure on the Indian team, Mr Hasan said he did not think it would affect the players to that extent.
Recalling the Pakistan team's tour to India in 1999, he said, ''They were also under pressure when they visited India, but after a couple of days the situation eased as they received a lot of warmth and appreciation from the people there.

''I am sure the Indian cricket team will be extended the same warmth here and they can get on with the game without any undue pressure.''
Bureau Report