Pak Officially Asks India to Change Match Venue From Dharamsala

After receiving a report on unassured security, this decision was taken.

Mohammad Bashir a cricket fan displays flags of both India and Pakistan during a T20 cricket match between India and Pakistan in Ahmedabad. (Photo: PTI)

After receiving a report on unassured security in Dharamsala, Pakistan has officially asked India to change the venue for their match against the host country scheduled on March 19, reports ESPNcricinfo.

The report that was sent to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan’s federal interior minister, Chaudary Nisar was compiled by a three-man delegation which said that ‘security is not assured’ at the Himachal Pradesh city.

However earlier on Tuesday, Tournament Director M V Sridhar had something else to say.

The match is on. The state and central governments are onboard and all security arrangements have been made.

<b> M V Sridhar, Tournament Director</b>

He said this after a meeting with Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Home Ministry M K Singla besides others in New Delhi.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had said on Monday that the state government cannot provide the security for the match. This conflicted with what BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur had to say.

We are committed to give full proof security to all teams and India is capable of doing that. No permission problem in Dharamsala.

<b> Anurag Thakur, BCCI secretary</b>

After receiving the report, the PCB decided not to allow the Pakistan team to travel to India on Wednesday as per the plan. Kolkata or Mohali was proposed as a replacement after the PCB wrote to ICC chief executive David Richardson on Tuesday.

A senior BCCI official said that ICC and BCCI should take a “final” call on Wednesday.