GEORGE DOBELL: Reg Dickason, the ECB's security consultant, is expected to return to Pakistan shortly to assess the situation following the attempted assassination of former prime minister, Imran Khan
The ECB are expected to review security arrangements in Pakistan ahead of the Test squad's tour of the country later this month.
While all indications at present suggest the tour is going ahead, Reg Dickason, the ECB's security consultant, is expected to return to Pakistan shortly to see if the security situation has changed in the aftermath of the attempted assassination of former prime minister, Imran Khan.
One person was killed and at least 10 were injured when Imran's convoy was hit by gunfire while attending a protest in the city of Warzirabad in the north-east of the country, about 60 miles from Lahore. Imran, who was captain of the Pakistan team which won the 1992 World Cup, sustained a non-life threatening injury to the lower leg.
The assassination attempt led to some in Imran's party accusing the government of attempting to silence him and has increased calls for elections.
A few days ago, Mark Wood admitted there was some concern among the England squad over the situation. Now Ben Stokes, the Test squad's captain, has said the decision over whether to go will effectively be made by Dickason.
Former prime minister and Pakistan captain, Imran Khan, was shot in an assassination attempt [Drew Angerer/Getty Images]
"Obviously what happened there last week was a bit of a shock to see," Stokes said. "But we've currently got Reg Dickason out there.
"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.
"But we can't really comment on anything until we've all the information back from Reg once he's out there. But the players and the people going out on that tour 100 per cent trust him. He's a man you trust with your life, Reg."
An England spokesperson later clarified that Dickason is not actually in Pakistan at present. He is in Australia where he is overseeing the arrival of the ODI players tomorrow. However, he is expected to travel to Pakistan shortly after that.
Dickason has been in Pakistan recently but not since the shooting of Imran. He is now expected to return earlier than was originally planned.
Reg Dickason (left) is the ECB's security consultant [Stu Forster/Getty Images]
Dickason, a former police officer in Melbourne, has built a well-respected security consultancy (ESI Risk) over the last 25 or so years. He has worked with the ECB for more than a decade and was intimately involved in the decision to tour Bangladesh amid great security in 2016. It is clear that Stokes and co. have great faith in him.
"We have the best security officer in the world in Reg Dickason trying to find out information for us," Stokes continued. "Whatever Reg says, the players and the ECB will listen because he knows exactly what he is doing."
England haven't embarked on a Test tour of Pakistan since late 2005 due to security concerns.
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