India tightens security for Australia

Security measures for the Australian team on tour in India will be increased in the wake of the latest bomb blast in New Delhi, a cricket board official said Sunday.

A blast in a crowded market on Saturday left two dead and 22 injured, raising fresh security concerns ahead of the four-Test series that begins in Bangalore on October 9.

New Delhi is to host the third Test from October 29.

"We are in touch with the Home Ministry," Rajiv Shukla, the chairman of board's media committee, said.

"The security provided to the Australian team will be increased," he was quoted as saying by Cricketnext website.

"An advisory has been sent to all state governments hosting the Tests. For now, the Delhi Test is on. There is no need to panic." Saturday's blast came a fortnight after 24 people were killed in a series of five bomb blasts in New Delhi.

"If we have to do anything besides the normal security drill we will do (it) only after getting instructions from Cricket Australia," team spokesman Matthew Slade told the media in Jaipur where the visitors are playing a practice match.

Their second practice match is against an Indian Board President's XI in Hyderabad from October 2-5.

NEW DELHI, Monday (AFP)