ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday contacted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and PCB chairman Shahryar Khan, for a final decision regarding national cricket team’s visit to India for World Twenty20.
The minister telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is in Saudi Arabia, and consulted with him before taking a final decision.
On Thursday, Chaudhry Nisar had said that Pakistan would not participate in the World T20 until the Indian government publicly guarantees security for the men and women’s national teams.
Nisar conditions World T20 tour with Indian govt’s assurance
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had also announced that it wanted security assurance from India before it allows the team to travel to the World Twenty20 with its first group match at Kolkata scheduled for next Wednesday.
On Friday, the minister held consultation with the PM and updated him about the situation.
Nisar, who is mandated by the PM to take a final decision in this regard, also telephoned PCB chief Shaharyar Khan.
Sources say Pakistani authorities are receiving ‘positive signals’ from India.
Pakistan team was due to fly out on Wednesday to play in the World Twenty20 cricket tournament but their departure was put on hold by the government.
Pakistan sent a security assessment team to India on Monday after voicing repeated concerns about arrangements, saying there had been threats from Hindu activists.
On Wednesday the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Board of Cricket for Control in India (BCCI) shifted the March 19 game after the chief minister of the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh refused to provide security for the match.
