England cannot fail to note the massive police and armed forces security operation surrounding today's one-day international here - but there is no way that terrorism concerns will follow them on to the pitch against Pakistan.

That assurance came yesterday from Vikram Solanki, the Worcestershire captain, who knows he can expect to play a more significant role today for his country in the absence of the injured Kevin Pietersen.

Solanki shared a record ninth-wicket stand of 100 with Liam Plunkett when he featured as a 'supersub' in Monday's seven-wicket defeat in Lahore which left this five-match series level at 1-1.

Since then Pietersen has had to fly home to rest his injured rib, leaving Solanki as the obvious replacement for his No 4 batting berth.

Those are the considerations uppermost in Solanki's mind - and they will stay there above more unnerving thoughts as England make their way through the Pakistan government's 'ring of steel' security enforced by some 3,000 police and military personnel. "You've got plenty on your plate playing an international cricket match, too much to be worried about the security situation," said Solanki, who is reassured by the knowledge that England are in town only after painstaking risk assessment by specialist authorities.

"The fact that we're here is comfort enough for me - because I know there has been a rigorous amount of investigation before we came to this venue.

"Just the fact that we're here makes me completely confident that whoever has made the decision will have made the right one."

Despite a fatal bomb blast exactly a month ago outside the hotel where England are staying, Marcus Trescothick's men were today scheduled to become the first non-Asian international tourists to play at this venue since Nasser Hussain and Co won the final Test of 2000 here. New Zealand were about to start a Test match at the National Stadium before a bomb killed 14 people - again outside the team hotel - and made them abort their 2002 trip.

Since then the security issue has been too alarming for other tourists to risk. The Pakistan Cricket Board are therefore doubly determined this third one-day international goes without a hitch.

For England, there are problems enough on the pitch - although Solanki believes they have adequate personnel in the remaining 14-man pool of players to remain competitive. ..SUPL: