ICC World T20: BCCI questions Pakistan's stand on security matters

With the ambiguity Pakistan depicting for the past couple of days, BCCI finally seems to have it enough. In the recent addition to the unending drama, Board secretary Anurag Thakur took a jab at the Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB) saying the decision to play the multi-nation tournament in India was taken by ICC.

Referring to the delay PCB is doing in sending the Pakistan cricket team to India for the World Cup, Thakur said, “You have to play according to the ICC's decision in multinational tournament, where about 26 nations are participating. The Indian government's decision will be important in case of bilateral series between the two nations. In multinational tournament like the World Cup, you cannot say that they do not want to play".

Pakistan’s participation in the competition is in jeopardy even though there have been numerous assurances sent out on behalf of India. With the ICC already shifting their match against India from Dharamsala to Kolkata, West Bengal Government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had assured foolproof security for their stay in the city.

The shift in venue was done after Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister revealed his antipathy to hold the volatile tie in his state. In the wake of the recent Pathankot attacks, families of slain army men opposed to hold a match involving Pakistan.

PCB chief Shaharyar Khan stated in a press conference that they had received flawless assertion from the Indian government and the BCCI but added that they were waiting for the decision of the Interior Minister on the matter.

Tharoor mocks PCB

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor dig fun at the PCB saying whether losing to the hosts in the tournament was being the reason for not sending their team to India within time. "If they don't want to come to India fearing defeat, then it is a different matter. But security for them in this country and in West Bengal, is at its possible best," Tharoor told the media.

"Mamata Banerjee has said that she will guarantee 100 percent security of the team, so I don't really know what is Pakistan waiting for right now. So, besides waiting for a reply from the central government, they should trust the authority of Mamata Banerjee since the match is to be played in Kolkata," Tharoor said.

The ball is in PCB’s court right now as BCCI has made a stern statement on the matter.

With Pakistan scheduled to play Bengal cricket team on March 12 as their first warm-up match, one needs to see if they land in Kolkata within time.