The uncertainty over Pakistani cricket teams’ participation in the ongoing ICC T-20 World Cup cricket tournament got over on Friday after its Interior Ministry cleared the tour to India following assurances about “foolproof security’ from New Delhi. Pakistan will play matches in Kolkata, Mohali and may get to play in Delhi if they manage to reach semifinals.
Allaying security concerns for Pakistani cricket teams, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said India has always ensured security of visiting foreigners and there should be “no doubt” about it. Home Minister’s statement came shortly after Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit met Home Secretary Rajeev Mehrishi on Friday to discuss the security arrangements for visiting Pakistani teams. Basit shared his concerns with the Indian Government with regard to potential threats to the visiting Pakistani teams.
“Anyone who comes to India will be given security. Not only Pakistan, but citizen of any country who comes to India is always provided security. There should be no doubt about it,” Rajnath Singh said on the sidelines of the 47th Raising Day celebrations of CISF.
The Pakistani envoy meeting with the Home Secretary came shortly after the Pakistani Interior Ministry cleared the national men’s and women’s teams to travel to India for the cricket event. Sources in Pakistan High Commission said Basit expressed concerns over Pakistani teams’ security and wanted to know about arrangements.
The Pakistan Government had earlier said its men´s and women´s teams would travel to India only after New Delhi gave a guarantee on the safety of its players.
In a meeting that lasted about 30 minutes, the Home Secretary assured the envoy of a foolproof security cover to all travelling teams including Pakistan. “The High Commissioner of Pakistan met the Home Secretary today in connection with the forthcoming ICC World T20 tournament in India. 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,” said Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs.
In Islamabad, Pakistan Cricket Board executive committee chairman Najam Sethi announced the Government’s decision to send teams to India. “The Interior Minister has given permission to send the Pakistan cricket team to play the World T20 on the basis of solid assurances received from the Chief Minister of West Bengal and the Union Home Secretary and the Home Minister (in India),” Sethi said. “The team is completely ready and hopefully they will fly to Dubai tonight and then from there will leave straight for India,” he added.
In lahore, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said that the players were given the option to pullout from the tournament if they had any apprehensions of their safety and security. But the entire squad expressed desire to play in the tournament. “We want cricketing ties to remain active. Our hope is that our cricketing relations (between India and Pakistan) remain intact,” Khan said.