New Delhi: A two-member team from Pakistan arrived to review the security situation in Dharamsala, which is scheduled to host the side’s marquee World Twenty20 clash against India — a match that appears to be in trouble owing to protests by Himachal Pradesh’s ex-servicemen. Pakistan are scheduled to start their campaign on March 16 against a qualifier before clashing with India on March 19.
The much-anticipated match has been thrown into jeopardy after HP Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said the game should be shifted out to respect popular sentiment after the Pathankot terror attacks. The Pakistani team is headed by Director, Federal Investigation Agency Usman Anwar, who is also probing the Pathankot attack.
The team was briefly stopped at the Wagah border over technical issues pertaining to their visa. HP Congress Committee President Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu fired another salvo at BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, also a BJP MP from Hamirpur, and claimed that he had earlier opposed any cricketing engagement with Pakistan.
India has decided to grant 1,000 visas to Pakistani cricket fans to visit this country for the World Twenty20 tournament. The visas will be for five days to enable the Pakistanis to see at least two matches. The government is asking for confirmed match tickets, entry and return travel details, reservation details, as well as hotel booking data and photo ID proof.
