ICC World Twenty20 Tournament Director M.V. Sridhar is hopeful that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would give a go-ahead to its national team to play the scheduled match against India at the HPCA Stadium here on March 19.
Against the backdrop of a Pakistan delegation visiting the stadium here to take stock of the security arrangements ahead of the much-anticipated match, Sridhar said there is no reason why the PCB should prevent its team from playing here.
“The match is on and we have sold tickets online. We are hopeful that the PCB in consultation with their Government will come back with a positive response,” Sridhar told mediapersons here on Tuesday. Pointing out that two teams from Pakistan had played at the venue in the past, Sridhar, also the general manager (cricket operations) of the Indian Cricket Board, said local authorities had appraised the visiting delegation of the security arrangements here. “The district administration (of Kangra) has categorically stated that they are committed to the complete security of not just the India-Pakistan match but of all the matches which are going to be held here in Dharamshala.
That is a commitment given by the Board. That has been clearly communicated to the Pakistan delegation.
“Their visit was primarily to understand the ground realities. They were here to see if there was actually any cause for concern.” Asserting that Dharamshala was prepared to handle a match of this magnitude, the Tournament Director said, “In a worst case scenario we will sit down and see (what can be done).”
Sridhar said instead of focusing on negative aspects everybody should appreciate the fact India was hosting ‘the biggest ever World Cup.'
