Pakistan cricket team to fly to India today

Islamabad: Pakistan cricket team is likely to leave for India on  Friday to participate in World T20 via Dubai, officials said on Thursday. Despite the green signal to the cricket team, to travel to India, the deadlock between Pakistan and India’s governments on matter of giving public assurance regarding security of the team persisted.

Read: Pakistan seek security assurance

Officials said the team will leave from Lahore at around 3: 20 am on Friday to Dubai for onward travel to India.

“Pakistan team will land in Dubai and from there they will fly to Kolkata,” said a government official.

“The government can still ask them to return from Dubai but we are positive we will play the world cup,” he added.

The official said the tentative travel itinerary was also in knowledge of International Cricket Council (ICC). Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan however, said that Pakistan cricket team would not visit India till receipt of clear and public guarantee of security by the Indian government.

Pakistan or any other team, our job is to provide security: India

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, he said attitude of Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) and ICC was positive but they had nothing to do with the security.

“It has to be provided by the Indian government,” he added.

The minister said despite tense environment the government decided to send cricket team to India but since then unabated threats are being hurled and allegations levelled.

Read: PCB assured of adequate security

He said these threats were Pakistan-specific and therefore, have to be taken seriously by Pakistan government.

He said it is responsibility of the Government to ensure security and safety of the players. Mr Khan said it is also important that players participate in the World Cup in a threat-free and pressure-free environment and therefore, they should be given level playing field.

The BCCI has already changed the venue of Pakistan-India World T20 clash from Dharamsala to Kolkata but Pakistan government wanted the Indian counterparts to state it publicly that team and fans travelling to India will be secure.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan met the team Thursday at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and urged them to focus on the Word T20. Anti-Terrorist Front of India (ATFI) , which has been stridently opposing the Pakistan cricket team playing in India, had threatened to dig up the pitch at Eden Gardens here that is hosting the high voltage India-Pakistan tie in the World Twenty20.

“Hosting of Pakistan in India is a grave insult to all our brave soldiers who were martyred in attacks. We will not allow the match at any cost, we will dig up the Eden pitch, there will be massive protests,” said ATFI national president Viresh Shandilya.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan welcomed the ICC decision for shifting Pak-India match of the World Twenty20 from Dharamasala to Kolkata. 

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson earlier said the decision to shift the venue was taken following consultation with the BCCI, the relevant state associations, the ICC and BCCI security consultant and other relevant authorities.

“The decision to relocate the match has been made for security reasons.The concerns initially arose following alleged public comments recently reported by the Chief Minister of Hamachal Pradesh, warning of demonstrations and attempts to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the match.”

“Finally, I would like to confirm that the ICC has been assured by all relevant state authorities that all adequate security measures are in place and will be implemented to ensure that the event is staged in a safe and secure environment for all stakeholders,” said the ICC official.

Interior ministry officials here said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was keen to see the cricketers play in India and had asked the authorities to ensure the team’s participation in the world cup.

“We are sure India will provide adequate security to the team and we will have a wonderful tournament,” said an official.