Some 2,000 police and squads of black-clad "elite force" commandos were on guard as the Proteas took on the Lahore City XI at the eastern city's Gaddafi Stadium.

Fifty mobile police teams patrolled the ground and bomb squad experts scanned the stadium's 14 gates before the team arrived, bussed from their hotel under tight police escort with a guard even posted inside the bus.

Wednesday's security display was a dress rehearsal for the first of five limited-over matches on Friday in this ancient eastern city near the Indian border.

"We have made elaborate arrangements for the South Africans and around 2,000 policemen will be on duty in and around the stadium Friday," Muhammad Ali, assistant police superintendent, told AFP.

"It's a high-profile series and even the President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf has given strict instructions to all the concerned quarters."

Of the 150 elite police commandos, 20 will be stationed in and around the players' pavilion.

"The South Africans demanded special security and that's why we are over-cautious with the arrangements," Irfan Mirza, the Pakistani official organising the series, told AFP.

"It looks like a match in Central Jail. How can people come to watch with so much restrictions?" quipped one spectator.

South African captain Graeme Smith said on arrival Tuesday the heavy security was expected.

"When we arrived we were given tight security and all of us expected that," he told a press conference.

"I am not afraid of Pakistanis, but I am afraid of the bombs."

Meanwhile Reuters adds, the Lahore City Nazim team made a competitive total of 250 for four wickets in 50 overs against South Africa in a day-and-night practice match on Wednesday at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Imran Farhat scored team highest 64.