Pakistan wanted the match with India, to be played on March 19, to be shifted from Dharamsala amid security concern. (File photo)
An India-Pakistan World Twenty 20 match to be played on March 19 has been shifted from Dharamsala to Kolkata, but Pakistan's cricket board (PCB) says it is still awaiting an explicit assurance from the Indian Government on security for its cricket teams for the tournament.
Here are latest developments:
After the International Cricket Council announced the shift of venue this evening, PCB chief Shahryar Khan said the teams would travel to India for the world cup only when an Indian government assurance was received. That had not come yet, he said.
The Pakistani men's cricket team is in Lahore and the women's team is in Karachi, waiting for word on whether they will fly to India to play in the tournament. They were to have flown to Delhi on Wednesday afternoon.
This morning Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif granted permission, sources said, for the teams to travel to India for the tournament, but said a final decision would be taken by the country's Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan.
Top cricket officials are meeting right now at Lahore's Gaddafi stadium and sources said once the PCB gets an okay from the government, the teams will take the first flight available to India, where the World T20 will be held from this week.
Pakistan had requested that the match with India to be shifted from Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh after the state's Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh of the Congress said he could not ensure adequate security for the match.
In Himachal Pradesh, former servicemen have been protesting against the match, alleging that it hurts the sentiments of the families of soldiers of the state killed in battle against Pakistan or in operations against terrorists from Pakistan-based terror groups.
A three-member Pakistan team that visited Dharamsala to assess security arrangements reportedly told the government that it was not satisfied with the plans made for both the team and Pakistani fans who would attend the match.
The ICC's David Richardson said a full refund will be offered to those who have purchased tickets for the Dharamshala match, or they will have the opportunity to exchange them for tickets to the Kolkata match.
"The ICC has been assured by all state authorities who are responsibility of security involved in this. We have been assured by them that adequate security measures are in place," Mr Richardson said.
Pakistan are scheduled to play their first match of the World T20 on March 16 against a qualifier at Kolkata's Eden Gardens. They then play India on March 19, now at the same venue.
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