World T20: Interior Minister presents report to PM Nawaz

Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Wednesday presented security team’s report to Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif regarding safety arrangements in India for World Twenty20 tie due on March 19.

The report said that the national team can face difficulties at Dharamshala due to threats.

On the other hand, Chief of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shaharyar Khan has stated that Indian government has not fully assured security to the team.

PCB has sent a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC), citing to shift the match from Dharamshala.

“I have sent an email to the ICC that if Dharamshala has a problem hosting Pakistan-India World T20 game, the match should be played either in Mohali or Kolkata. The board is also open to the idea of playing it elsewhere as long as the safety and security of the Pakistani cricketers is taken care of,” said chief Shaharyar Khan.

The PCB chief told that the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister as not committed full security for the match and the Indian government has also not come up with any reassuring statement so far.
Earlier, Pakistan government had also sent a security team to India to survey the situation on the ground before the country’s cricket squad travels to play in India.
The three-member security team comprises Director of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Usman Anwar, a security officer Colonel (retd) Mohammad Azam and an official of Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi.
The delegation met CM Himachal who had said that there would be a tight security, but if the ex-servicemen protest and form a wall, the police will not take action against them and will not resort to baton-charge.
Meanwhile, ICC World Twenty20 director MV Sridhar revealed that the Pakistan security team has assessed the security measures taken in Dharamsala.
But the Pakistani side is still not satisfied with the arrangements due to continuous warnings from Indian extremists as they threatened to dig out the pitch if green shirts play at Dharamshala Stadium.
Pakistan will play against India on March 19 in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. There has been some opposition in the state, including from ex-servicemen, on holding the match at the hill station. Pakistan will also play two matches in Mohali, Punjab – against New Zealand on March 22 and against Australia on March 25.
Moreover, PCB had announced final squad for WT20. Ahmed Shahzad was been picked up on the place of Khurram Manzoor while Khalid Latif replaced Iftekhar Ahmed.

The other players include captain Shahid Afridi, Sarfarz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Sami.