“The government has given us clearance to play in the World T20 but after the security concerns surrounding the Pakistan and India match in Dharamsala a report was given to the Prime Minister”, Shaharyar had said.
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Shaharyar said the Interior Minister had raised concerns over the security issue in India for the Pakistan team.
Khan said the threats against the Pakistan team were specific and threatened to pull out of the tournament unless the PCB gets a clear message about the security situation from the Indian Government. “Because it involves the security of our players, officials, people and media who will go to India for the event”, Mani said.
“India should play cricket with only friendly nations and not those who were supporting terrorism or sending trained militants to attack India and claim lives of jawans guarding the borders”. “The venues for World Cup were finalised a year in advance”.
Over time administrators should be improving how they manage these tournaments – if they took a step forward in 2011 they have taken a huge leap backwards in 2016.
Pakistan’s scheduled match against hosts India in Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh was at the center of controversy owing to statements from politicians and ministers that they would not allow the match to be held in the hill station.
The Interior Minister said there are overlapping functions of FIA and NAB, and these would be considered.
Shaharyar said everyone from the coach to those involved in the selection process would be held accountable but added there would not be no knee-jerk reaction. “They are against Pak team playing in Himachal Pradesh”.
The security team will leave for India on Monday and will file their report on the security arrangements in India by Wednesday.
Pakistan has managed to secure a match against India in Sunday’s final, a great achievement considering their defeat from 28-4 posted 129-7.
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He also pointed out that it is not a bilateral visit but a world cup where Pakistan’s participation is necessary. But speculations still continued over Afridi’s future as board insiders said that during deliberations on the team’s performance in the Asia Cup majority had felt that the allrounder was not pulling his weight.
