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Business News/ News / World/  Pakistan to send cricket team to India after security assurances
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Pakistan to send cricket team to India after security assurances

Pakistan's go-ahead to its team followed a meeting between the country's high commissioner to India Abdul Basit and home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi

A screen grab of PCB websitePremium
A screen grab of PCB website

New Delhi: Pakistan’s cricket team is set to play in the ICC World Twenty20 championship in India after assurances of security for the team and fans came in on Friday from the Indian home ministry and the state of West Bengal.

Pakistan’s go-ahead to its team to travel to India followed a meeting between the country’s high commissioner to India Abdul Basit and home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi.

“The discussions were positive. The home secretary conveyed to the high commissioner of Pakistan that all necessary arrangements are being made for all participating countries, as appropriate, including for security of all the participants concerned. Home secretary reiterated that as in the past all participants will be looked after and there is no cause for concern," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said.

The Pakistani team is to play its first match of the World T20 on 16 March against a qualifier at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.

It was then supposed to play India at Dharamsala on 19 March but after Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh reportedly said that the state could not guarantee security to the team, that match was shifted to Kolkata.

Some ex-servicemen in Himachal Pradesh had protested against the state hosting the Pakistan team, saying that it hurts the sentiments of families of soldiers who have died in battle against Pakistan or in operations against militants from Pakistan-based groups.

India and Pakistan have fought four wars since independence from British rule in 1947. India accuses Pakistan of stoking an Islamist insurgency in Kashmir, a charge Pakistan denies. India also accuses Pakistan of sheltering anti-India militant groups such as the Jaish-e-Mohammed. Pakistan on its part says it extends moral, political and diplomatic support to the freedom struggle in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Ties between the two countries have hit a trough after the 2 January attack on the Indian airbase at Pathankot. Six militants and seven Indian security personnel were killed in the raid.

“Pakistan’s main concern has been addressed. They had objected to Dharamsala as a venue and it has been changed now. The Pakistan team will play only in Kolkata and Mohali," said a government official who did not want to be named.

Earlier in the day, home minister Rajnath Singh said that India had always ensured security for foreigners. “Anyone who comes to India will be given security. Not only Pakistan, but citizens of any country who come to India are always provided security. There should be no doubt about it," he was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has also promised foolproof security arrangements for the March 19 India-Pakistan T20 match in Kolkata.

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Published: 11 Mar 2016, 06:20 PM IST
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