On Pakistan's request, a match against India on March 19 has been shifted from Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh to Kolkata. (File photo)
Pakistan's cricket board has received not one but three written assurances from India that its cricket team for World Twenty20 will have full security. The letters are from the ICC, the West Bengal government and the Kolkata police chief, sources have told NDTV.
Here are the latest developments:
Top officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board met today to assess the security assurances given by New Delhi. Sources say, the final go ahead will be given by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif when he returns from his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia later this evening.
Addressing Pakistan's security concern, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said, "Anyone coming to India will be provided security. There is no doubt about it."
Pakistan Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had said yesterday "all of Pakistan" wants the teams to travel to India for the tournament, but "the threats are Pakistan specific. It is our responsibility that our players do not face any kind of pressure when they play...Unless we get written assurance from the (Indian) government, we will not allow our team to travel to India."
On Pakistan's request, a match against India on March 19 has been shifted to Kolkata from Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh. Pakistan's warm up match is scheduled for tomorrow in Kolkata and the team will play their first match against a qualifier on March 16.
Pakistan Cricket Board or PCB Chairman Shahrayar Khan told NDTV, ""We want to go, we want to play - whenever the permissions come through, we'll go, even if it is on the eve of the match". Both the men's and women's teams have been kitted and waiting from Tuesday to leave for India.
"All necessary arrangements including those for security have been made in the past for all international sporting events organised in India...We are confident that the ICC World T20 will also be a resounding success in all aspects," foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said yesterday when asked whether India was sending a written assurance on security to Pakistan.
Sources in Islamabad told NDTV that Pakistan's High Commission in New Delhi had on Sunday contacted the External Affairs Ministry with a request to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh. "Time for a meeting has not yet been given," the sources said.
"If Pakistan wants an excuse that's a different thing. But India is fully committed to provide adequate security to all teams," said Anurag Thakur, BJP lawmaker and secretary of the Indian cricket board BCCI.
Security concerns arose in Himachal Pradesh after former servicemen protested against the match, alleging that playing Pakistan would hurt the sentiments of the families of soldiers of the state killed in battle against Pakistan or in operations against terrorists from Pakistan-based terror groups.
Pakistan is scheduled to play its first match of the World T20 on March 16 against a qualifier at Kolkata's Eden Gardens. They then play India on March 19, now at the same venue. Pakistan also plays two matches in Mohali in Punjab.
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