World T20: Pakistan Mull Pullout After Dharamsala Impasse, BCCI Promises Security For March 19 Tie vs India
The India versus Pakistan match in Dharamsala on March 19 is likely to go ahead after BCCI promised foolproof security to the Pakistan Cricket Board. However, reports suggest that Kolkata's Eden Gardens has been kept as standby.
Dharamsala's loss could be Kolkata's gain as the stalemate over the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association hosting the ICC World T20 match between India and Pakistan on March 19 continued on Thursday. Sources told NDTV that Eden Gardens was shortlisted as an optional venue for the high-voltage clash. (World Twenty20: Board of Control for Cricket in India in a Fix As Himachal Pradesh Doesn't Want to Host India-Pakistan Game)
On Thursday evening, the Pakistan Cricket Board has threatened to withdraw from the World Cup if the Indian government did not guarantee full security to its players. PCB chairman Shahryar Khan told the media in Lahore. (World Twenty20: Don't Play Against India in Dharamsala, Ehsan Mani Tells Pakistan Cricket Board)
"We have concerns and the threats are Pakistan-specific. Even now, the Himachal Pradesh chief minister has also said that they will not guarantee the security," Khan said in a press conference.
On Friday, BCCI's Rajeev Shukla assured Pakistan that "foolproof security" will be provided and that the India-Pakistan match will be held as scheduled.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister VIrbhadra Singh of the Congress had written to the Union Home ministry suggesting that the match be shifted out of Dharamsala as his government cannot provide the kind of security an India-Pakistan match requires.
The Centre, sources said, on Thursday refused to intervene as security is a a state matter. This has increased doubts on whether Dharamsala will finally host the match.
Pakistan are also worried about security of their team. On Wednesday, former ICC president Ehsan Mani of Pakistan, said the national team must not play in Dharamsala.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Anurag Thakur, a BJP lawmaker who is also the president of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, has said it is impossible to change Dharamsala as a venue at the "last moment".
Pakistan may withdraw
Nisar Ali Khan, Pakistan's interior minister, had initially granted the PCB permission to play in India, but the PCB has put the tour on hold. "We have been informing the ICC on a daily basis about these threats which is not encouraging for us," said Shahryar Khan.
"Although our government has already given permission, these latest threats need to be taken seriously. Political parties like Shiv Sena (threatened us), now even the Congress has also said they will not let us play along with some other groups. Those are the ones creating agitation," Shahryar Khan added.
(With inputs from Akhilesh Sharma)