A three-member team constituted by the Pakistan government will depart for India on Monday to assess the security arrangements for the national team for the World T20 cricket tournament beginning next week.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that until the security team gave clearance, the Pakistani cricketers will not depart for India. “The security team will assess whether complete security will be provided to our team during the WT20. I have asked Pakistan Cricket Board chairman to wait, and the team can wait until the security clearance is assured,” Nisar said.
The team will be led by Usman Anwar, director in Federal Investigation Agency, and will have one representative each from PCB and Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
He agreed that since the Pakistan team was scheduled to depart for India by Thursday, time was short but said the departure of the cricketers can be delayed until the security delegation gives clearance.
Meanwhile, PCB has stopped its national women’s team from going to India until it gets written security assurances and guarantees for the WT20.
PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan said that the women’s team was scheduled to leave for India on Tuesday afternoon. “But their departure has now been put on hold as we are in touch with the government on the security issues in India,” he said.