World Twenty20: Pakistan to Assess Security Measures in India Before Agreeing to Play
Pakistan government is going to send a team to India for security assessment before sending their team to play in the World Twenty20
Pakistan will assess on ground the security measures in place ahead of World Twenty20 in India, before clearing the participation of its team, an official said. (World Twenty20: Paramilitary Will be Provided For India-Pakistan Match in Dharamsala, Says Rajnath Singh)
A statement from the Prime Minister's office on Friday said Nawaz Sharif told interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali to 'send a team to India' to assess the security measures for the national cricket team before they participate in the World Twenty20. (Board of Control for Cricket in India Firm on Hosting India vs Pakistan Match in Dharamsala, Says Rajeev Shukla)
The Prime Minister kept the decision of sending team to India on hold till the report of the team was submitted. (Worried Pakistan Cricket Board Wants India to Make 'Public Statement' on Security)
"The final decision on whether Pakistan's cricket team will fly to India will be made after a report is submitted by the 'security team'," the statement said. (Don't Play Against India in Dharamsala, Ehsan Mani Tells Pakistan Cricket Board)
In a meeting with the interior minister at the PM House, Sharif directed him to ensure "fool-proof security measures for the team in coordination with the Pakistani high commissioner in Delhi".
The highly anticipated Super 10 Group 2 clash between the two arch-rivals is scheduled to be held in Dharamsala on March 19. But it has sparked a controversy in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh as Dharamsala is located in Kangra district which is home to a large number of retired and serving personnel of the Indian Army.
The issue had sparked a war of words between Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur. They later held a meeting to sort out the issue.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan had on Thursday threatened to pull out of the T20 format's pinnacle event if they failed to get clarity about the security situation from the Indian government.
But the BCCI and the Indian government on Friday sought to ease concerns over security, with Rajnath Singh stating that central para-military forces will be deputed to provide security during the match if the state administration is unable to do so.