Pakistan yesterday announced it would send its national cricket teams to India for the World Twenty20 following security assurances from New Delhi.
Pakistani Ministry of the Interior “Chaudhry Nisar [Ali Khan] has given permission to Pakistan’s team to play in India,” Najam Sethi, chairman of the executive committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), told reporters after a meeting with the minister.
Earlier yesterday, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh sought to allay Pakistani concerns over security at the tournament.
Photo: AP
The clash between the two sides on Saturday next week has already been shifted to Kolkata following Pakistani security concerns over the original venue, Dharamsala.
Pakistan on Thursday said its men’s and women’s cricket teams would travel to India only after New Delhi gave a public guarantee of the safety of its players.
“Why only Pakistan? Whoever comes here, India provides them security. There is no reason to be worried about security here,” Singh told reporters.
On the field, the Netherlands were knocked out of the qualifying tournament after their match against Oman was abandoned due to rain in Dharamsala.
The Netherlands, who shared a point with Oman in the rained-off game, lost their opener to Bangladesh.
Oman, who stunned Irleand in their first qualifier, are still in the race for the Super 10 stage.
Bangladesh were to play Ireland in the second match at the same ground, with the game to start at press time last night.
On Thursday, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe won, setting up a Group B decider between the two.
Afghanistan cantered to their second straight win in the group stage, humbling Hong Kong by six wickets, while Zimbabwe beat Scotland by 11 runs.
In warm-up games on Thursday, New Zealand scored 226 to trounce Sri Lanka by 74 runs, with Colin Munro and Corey Anderson hitting half centuries, while India defeated the West Indies by 45 runs.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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