The Pakistan men’s and women’s teams arrived in India last night.
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The national cricket team have reached Abu Dhabi from where they would leave for Kolkata. “Welcome to India Team Pakistan, play your best and the cup is ours, we will be in Kolkata to cheer you up”, he tweeted.
The Pakistan squad including 15 players, 12 officials and support staff reached the Allama Iqbal global airport amidst tight security and boarded a flight hours after the Pakistan government finally gave the PCB the green signal to fly to India to take part in the ICC event.
“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 in Islamabad.
PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said that the players were given the option to pullout of the prestigious tournament if they felt that their security will be under threat in India.
“We want cricketing ties to remain active”.
Waqar also played down talk of the current security situation having a negative impact on the team’s performance. The Pakistani skipper reciprocated the warm gestures, waving at the crowd before leading his teammates into two buses as they went straight to the team hotel.
“In case, the government allows travel to India, the team should focus on the game and demonstrate a high level of discipline and commitment, he added”.
The ICC has already shifted the Indo-Pak match on March 19 to Kolkata from Dharamsala due to security concerns. But the team’s departure was further postponed later on Thursday when the Pakistan government insisted on written assurances from the Indian authorities.
A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official confirmed to DawnNews to have received a copy of the public notice issued by the West Bengal state government.
Basit told the media after the meeting that he has got assurance from the Home Secretary for the security of Pakistan cricket team and their fans.
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India had also threatened legal action if the Pakistan team pulled out of the tournament as they claimed that all possible security arrangements are in place for holding the mega event.
