Lankan govt 'unable to guarantee Proteas' safety', concludes Olive

Dubai, Aug 18 (UNI) The security agency, whose assessment of the situation in Sri Lanka led to South Africa's withdrawl from the tri-series also featuring India has concluded that the local government could not have guarnteed safety of the Proteas under the prevailing circumstances in the capital city of Colombo.

The Dubai-based Olive Group, which was hired by the ICC to assess the security situation in Colombo after the South Africans expressed fear for their safety following a blast, in its report stated that the Lankan government would have been ''unable to guarantee the physical security of the team given the current security situation in Colombo.'' The agency says the threat level in the Sri Lankan capital were 'unacceptable' after a blast on the day of the first ODI between the hosts and the South Africans. However, it refused to specify the exact nature of the threat after the blast.

''All we can say at the present situation is that we've done our work and our client has been advised,'' Olive's Communications Manager William James told Gulf News.

''Unfortunately, we can't comment on any particular details regarding the security situation in Sri Lanka. From our perspective, the confidentiality to our client is of utmost importance. That's all we can say at this point of time,'' he added.

The agency's report led to the Proteas' withdrawl from the tournament, which left the Lankans fuming. Sri Lanka Cricket has already rubbished the report but Olive has refused to react to the SLC's criticism.

''I can understand why the Sri Lankans are upset. Whether they wish to make comments like that is entirely up to them,'' Mr James added.

The pullout by the South Africans forced the organisers to make it three-match bi-series against India.

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