Citing the incident of Shiv Sena activists storming the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) headquarters in Mumbai protesting against the resumption of bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan, International Cricket Council (ICC) president Zaheer Abbas on Monday said he feared for Pakistan players’ security during the World Twenty20 scheduled to be held in India during March and April next year.
The much-anticipated talks between BCCI president Shashank Manohar and his Pakistan counterpart Shahryar Khan was cancelled on Monday after Shiv Sena protested against a possible India-Pakistan series in the UAE in December.
“Pakistan and India cricket authorities must work it out, otherwise I fear Pakistan players could also refuse to tour India for the upcoming World T20 Cup, citing security concerns,” Abbas told a news channel. “I don’t know what the environment will be when the World T20 is held in India but if this situation persists, obviously there will be extra pressure on our players,” he added.
A three-member delegation of the PCB — Shahryar, the chairman of the executive committee Najam Sethi and COO Subhan Ahmad — are presently in India to meet BCCI officials on cricketing ties.
Zaheer had told Pakistan media earlier that politics and sports should be kept apart and the countries should play at a neutral venue in December.
