On Thursday, interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan ruled out sending the team until safety assurances were made by the Indian government.
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The breakthrough comes as Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of the Indian state of West Bengal, assured in writing “foolproof security” to the Pakistan team for its match against India.
Both teams were scheduled to depart for India earlier this week, but the departure was put on hold due to the controversy over security assurances.
Khan said the government and every Pakistani wanted to see the former champions play in India.
“We are willing to issue multi-city visa if Pakistani fans have tickets and accommodation for all cities in which Pakistan is going to play” , a senior Home Ministry official said. “We want our players to play without any pressure”.
Meanwhile, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit met with the Indian Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, following which he sent his recommendations to Islamabad, leaving the decision in the hands of his government.
Talking to APP, a top PCB official, on condition of anonymity, said PCB is planning to bring in some new faces in Pakistan cricket on the recommendation of its recently-constituted “Special Committee” .
And now ahead of the World T20, the teams are the same, but this is a complete role reversal: Congress is the new Shiv Sena of India-Pakistan cricket.
Pakistan’s primary concerns over the security for their fixture in Dharamsala for a match against India have already been addressed. “We have done the best possible security arrangements and if they do not come now, we will have to take the legal route”. “We will not allow our team to travel to India unless we get a written assurance from their government”.
“Whosoever will come to India will be secured”, Rajnath told reporters in Ghaziabad, near the Indian capital.
Pakistan will play their first match in Kolkata on March 16 against a qualifier team before their much-anticipated clash against fierce-rivals India at the same venue three days later.
The Pakistan men’s team is now in Lahore, while the women’s team is in Karachi.
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Indian State Minister for Home Kiren Rajiju had also said that the government was ready to provide additional security to the Pakistan team.
