Press Trust of India
New Delhi/Lahore, March 9: The high-voltage World Twenty20 clash between arch rivals India and Pakistan was Wednesday moved to Kolkata from Dharamsala following safety concerns but Pakistan team’s departure continued to be on hold, pending fool-proof security assurance from the Indian government.
The much anticipated match was thrown into jeopardy after Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh expressed inability to provide security for the match. The ICC finally announced the relocation of the match to the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata where Pakistan will be based for the initial stages of the event.
“A decision has been taken to relocate the India-Pakistan match from Dharamsala to Kolkata due to security reasons. The match will be played at the same time and date (March 19, 7:30pm),” ICC CEO Dave Richardson said at a press conference in New Delhi.
Minutes after the ICC announcement, PCB chairman Shaharyar Kha
welcomed the decision but said in Lahore that Pakistan government has kept the teams’ departure on hold awaiting an assurance from the Indian government.
“Both men and women teams (departure) have been deferred. I have also informed this to the government because it has asked for my opinion,” Shaharyar told reporters in Lahore.
“I have told them that Kolkata is fine as venue and we welcome and appreciate it. But the Indian government from their side must also give us an assurance on our safety,” the PCB chief said.
“The Pakistan government has not talked with their Indian counterparts. This threat is on us so the PCB has talked with the Indian government. It is the PCB that is raising this issue with the BCCI, ICC and the government of India that this security assurance should be given by India,” he added.
Richardson said they were not left with any other choice but to move the match out of the hill city.
“The decision was not taken lightly. The ICC and the BCCI understand the disappointment that is likely to be felt by many. But the safety and security of the event is of paramount importance to the ICC and we have taken into consideration the concerns shared with us by our security advisors as well as the Pakistan Cricket Board,” the ICC CEO informed.
