World Twenty20: Paramilitary Will be Provided For India-Pakistan Match in Dharamsala, Says Rajnath Singh

Amidst uncertainty hanging over the India-Pakistan World Twenty20 match scheduled in Dharamsala, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said central paramilitary forces will be provided to ensure security for the March 19 event. (Board of Control for Cricket in India Firm on Hosting India vs Pakistan Match in Dharamsala, Says Rajeev Shukla)

"If the (Himachal Pradesh) chief minister asks for security forces, we will provide," he told reporters here. A cloud hangs over the marquee match between India and Pakistan in Dharamsala with Himachal Pradesh's ex-servicemen protesting against the game in the wake of January 2 Pathankot terror attacks. (Worried Pakistan Cricket Board Wants India to Make 'Public Statement' on Security)

Chief minister Virbhadra Singh on Tuesday had written a letter to the Union Home Minister stating that his government cannot provide security for the match. (Don't Play Against India in Dharamsala, Ehsan Mani Tells Pakistan Cricket Board)

'We are not refusing security'

But he later said Himachal Pradesh government had not refused security.  He said that during a telephone conversation with top BCCI official Rajeev Shukla.

"But I still stand by my decision, that organisers of the match first take permission from the martyrs' families," Virbhadra said. "They are not opposing the holding of matches. They are against the Pakistan team playing in Himachal Pradesh."

BCCI secretary and BJP MP Anurag Thakur said he was hopeful of the match happening in the hill station following his meeting with the Chief Minister. Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shahryar Khan had also written to BCCI seeking assurance of foolproof security to Pakistani players.