ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided not to send its cricket team to participate in the World Twenty20 tournament until the Indian government gives an assurance of complete security to its players, the interior ministry said.
In a statement issued today, the Interior Ministry said that Pakistan has conveyed its reservations to the Indian government over the security of its team, after hard-line Hindu groups threatened to disrupt a much-awaited Pakistan-India encounter in Dharamsala scheduled for March 19.
The interior ministry said that Pakistan will not send its team to participate in the tournament until a senior functionary of the Indian government gives a clear assurance of complete and satisfactory provision of security to the Pakistani players and team management in the neighbouring country.
The Pakistani government made the decision after receiving a report from its three-man delegation that 'security is not assured' at the venue of the March 19 match. The PCB sent the delegation of officials to check security at the venues in neighbouring India earlier this week, with the Dharamsala venue of particular concern.
According to sources, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now suggesting that Pakistan play the World T20 match in Kolkata or Mohali instead of Dharamsala in view of their security fears.
The Pakistani government has already informed the BCCI and International Cricket Council (ICC) of its concerns.
The ICC is scheduled to hold a press conference at 4:30 PM Pakistan time in which it is expected to address the matter.
The WT20 tournament opened on Tuesday with qualifying matches before the main draw begins on March 15. The final will be held at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on April 3.
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