Though accustomed to five-star hotel facilities, the Pakistan women’s cricket team for the ICC World Cup tournament has been forced to stay inside the fortified Barabati stadium here for security reasons, as some right-wing Hindu outfits are protesting against their presence on Indian soil.
The entire team is staying in the Club House of the stadium ever since it arrived here on Sunday last. Its movement has been restricted. The players will be practising and playing all their matches here till February 15. But the team is not complaining.
Amid unprecedented security cover, the Pakistan players had their net practice for over three hours on Monday and they won their first warm-up match against the host team by a comfortable margin. As even hoteliers refused to accommodate the team, the host Odisha Cricket Association decided to house the players inside the fortified stadium, said association secretary Asirbad Behera.
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