Pakistan government gives consent for team to play World T20 in India

Karachi, Feb 25: The Pakistan government today allowed its cricket team to participate in next month's World Twenty20 in India but has requested "special security arrangements" for the side during the event.

World T20 schedule and squads

Ending weeks of speculation on the matter, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Shaharyar Khan said the government had given the approval to travel for the showpiece which begins March 8.

"I am pleased that our Government has given its consent for our team to visit India. As a duty of care, we have asked ICC to put in place special arrangements for the Pakistan cricket team while in India," Khan said in a press release.

The PCB had said it would only tour India for the ICC event if it got clearance from the government, claiming that there were "real threats" to Pakistani players in India. He had also confirmed if Pakistan pulled out of the World event, it would have to pay a penalty to the ICC.

Khan had also revealed that the PCB had given a proposal to the ICC to stage Pakistan's World T20 matches at a neutral venue in the event the government did not allow the team to tour.

Pakistan will take on a qualifier on March 16 before facing off against India at Dharamsala on March 19 in the World T20's most anticipated clash.

Hundreds of Pakistani fans are expected to travel for the fixture and the PCB chairman has requested the ICC to accommodate them "We will also be expecting visa facilitation and other arrangements for the Pakistani fans wishing to visit India for the ICC World T20 2016," the PCB said.

Earlier, BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur had assured that security would be foolproof for all the participating teams, including Pakistan, and no side should feel insecure about travelling to India.

"BCCI will organise the World Cup in the nicest possible way and will provide every team with highest protection. Earlier also we have hosted many World Cups and international matches and I don't think any country should feel insecure here," Thakur had said when asked about Pakistan's security worries.

The PCB had initially hinted that Pakistan might withdraw from the upcoming event if the Pakistan government did not permit them to tour India. There were also reports that the PCB was also under pressure because of the ICC's threat of legal action in case of a withdrawal from the event.

The matches of the tournament will be spread over seven Indian cities and Pakistan will play their league matches in Kolkata, Dharamsala and Mohali.

PTI