Internet Desk: Pakistan’s interior minister Thursday ruled out sending the national cricket team to India for the World Twenty20 until security assurances comes from New Delhi, saying the threats from extremists are concerning.
Pakistan team was due to fly out on Wednesday to take part in the World Twenty but their departure was put on hold by Pakistan government.
Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan categorically ruled out sending the team to India until assurances come from high-ups in India.
“Until and unless clear guarantee on security comes from Indian government, unfortunately we are not in a position to decide sending the team,” Khan told media.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday left the decision to the government although it said the players were ready to fly any time.
Khan said the government and every Pakistani want to see the former champions play in India.
“Despite a lot of apprehensions and the fact that India do not want to play Pakistan (in bilateral series) on one or the other pretext, the government and every Pakistani fan want to see our team, who are former champions, to go and play.
“This is a world event but can cricket be played under the shadows of threats? It is government’s responsibility to ensure secuirty of our players and that we are doing.”
Pakistan won the second edition of the World Twenty20 in 2009.
Khan said the first part of Pakistan’s demand was met when the Indo-Pak match was shifted from Dharamsala to Kolkatta.
“What are we demanding, we are demanding even playing field,” said Khan. “The first issue was that there was security risk involved in playing the match against India in Dharamsala and the match was shifted to Kolkatta.”
On Wednesday the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Board of Cricket for Control in India (BCCI) shifted the March 19 match after Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh refused to provide security for the match.
Singh last week said the families of those killed in the 1999 Kargil war were against the staging of the Indo-Pak match.
Khan said even a full to capacity Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkatta can be risky.
“We want our players to play without any pressure,” said Khan. “There will be near to 100,000 people at Eden Gardens and even a bottle thrown at our players can disturb them.”
Pakistan’s reservations were based on untoward incidents occured in the last six months s Hindu extremists protesting against concerts by Pakistan ghazal singer Ghulam Ali and forcing a cancellation of a meeting between PCB and Indian board officials in October.
The arch-rivaks have not played a full series since 2007 and although Pakistan did tour India late in 2012 for a short limited over series that failed to revive the ties fully.
India did not play an agreed series with Pakistan in December last year, citing refusal from New Delhi amidst hightended tesnion between the South Asian nuclear rivals.