LAHORE: Pakistan's cricket chief said Thursday that relocating the second Test with Sri Lanka away from Lahore was discussed following an outbreak of political instability in the city.

A court decision last week to disqualify main opposition leader Nawaz Sharif from contesting elections saw his brother Shahbaz dismissed as chief minister in Lahore's Punjab province and ushered in days of stormy protests.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt said the prospect of moving the second Test to Karachi -- where the first Test was played without incident -- had been discussed following the political upheaval.

"I would say that it was discussed," said Butt when asked about the idea of shifting the Test back to Karachi.

Butt refused to reveal further details and denied there was any meeting to discuss changing the venue of the match.

Sources within the Sri Lankan team said they did discuss moving the venue, but that the tourists did not press the issue after assurances from the PCB.

Sri Lankan manager Brendon Kurrupu said before the Lahore Test that the visitors did not request beefed-up security.

"We are satisfied with the security arrangements and have not asked for any beef-up in that. The PCB has assured us that the law and order situation, due to political protests, will not hurt the match," Kuruppu said on Saturday.

Kuruppu's assessment was based on immaculate arrangements in Karachi -- Pakistan's first Test in 14 months after successive teams refused to tour the country over security fears.

Reports said around 3,000 police were deployed at the Karachi Stadium and 10 vehicles with paramilitary personnel were assigned to guard the Sri Lankan team and officials.

Sindh provincial sports minister, Mohammad Ali Shah, said that his government wanted to host the second Test in Karachi.

"We did want to offer to host the second Test because a two-day side matches and first Test was played in Karachi under the best security arrangements and before that we had two one-day matches in January.

"We didn't press for that because it is the right of every city to host matches, but in hindsight we should have hosted the Test."

"What happened in Lahore has spoiled our cricket."