ICC World Twenty20: Pakistan team to visit India after govt's clearance
Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday announced it would send its national cricket team to India for the ICC World Twenty20 following security assurances from New Delhi after months of uncertainty.
The interior minister "Chaudhry Nisar (Ali Khan) has given permission to Pakistan's team to play in India," Najam Sethi, a senior Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official, told reporters after a meeting with the minister.
The clearance from the Pakistan government came after Nisar spoke to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is on an official visit to Saudi Arabia.
The positive development came after Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said earlier on Friday that Pakistan team would be given full security and that the World T20 would be held smoothly and teams should travel to India without any security concerns.
"The team will fly out tonight for Dubai and onwards to Kolkata," Sethi said.
Read: Pakistan cricket team to fly to India today
"I have some good news for all cricket lovers who have been waiting for a long time that the interior minister has given clearance for the team to travel to India," he added. Sethi said the clearance was given after "solid assurances" from the Indian government about providing security to the Pakistan team in India and after speaking to the Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi.
"The High Commissioner also met with the Home Secretary in New Delhi today in which the security arrangements were discussed," he added.
Read: Whosoever comes to India will be secured, says Rajnath Singh
Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee also tweeted and sent a message to the Pakistan Cricket Board that top security would be provided to the visiting team in Kolkata.
Kolkata police writes to Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) assuring security to Pakistan team #WT20
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 11, 2016
We are very very happy to host #IND - #PAK #T20WorldCup match in #Kolkata. All are always welcome to our beautiful city
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 9, 2016
Earlier PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan had said that if Pakistan didn’t go to India for the World T20 it could incur losses of around USD 15 million.
The Pakistan team had been due to fly out on Wednesday to play in the tournament but their departure was put on hold by the government, citing the threat posed by Hindu extremists.
Read: Country’s image has taken a hit, says Anurag Thakur
Pakistan is set to play its first match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on March 16 against a qualifier team, followed by a clash against arch-rival India at the same venue three days later.
On Thursday Interior Minister Khan had ruled out sending the team until special assurances were met from India.
Sethi said the assurances had now been made.
"We received communication from the ICC (International Cricket Council) and BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India). We received a letter from the Chief Minister of Bengal and the police chief," he said.
"An hour ago our High Commissioner Abdul Basit met the Indian Secretary and the assurances were given."
Diplomatic tensions have meant that the two teams have not played any bilateral series for more than three years, and their rivalry is restricted to multi-national tournaments such as the World T20.
They have not played a full series since 2007, although Pakistan did tour India late in 2012 for a short limited over series that failed to revive the ties fully.
