ISLAMABAD – Pakistan will not participate in the World T20 until the Indian government ‘publicly’ guarantees security for the men and women’s national teams, Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar said on Thursday.
“The ICC and the BCCI have been very accommodating, but it is the Indian government’s security assurance that matters the most,” said Nisar while addressing a press conference here. “Thus far, there has been no such indication from them,” he added.
Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also announced that it wanted security assurance from India before it allows the team to travel to the World Twenty20, with its first group match in Kolkata on March 19.
PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan briefed the team players and officials in Lahore on Thursday and was hopeful the Indian government would publicly announce Pakistan Cricket Team’s safety during the tournament.
Khan told the players the team’s departure will only be possible once India gives security assurance and the Pakistani government also clears the tour.
The ICC has already moved Pakistan’s group match against hosts India to Kolkata on March 19 due to security concerns in Dharamsala.
