Dubai: The Indian government has stepped in to ensure that the much-awaited India versus Pakistan group league tie on March 19 for the ICC World Twenty20 is held in Dharamsala as scheduled.
Although the match was allotted to Dharamsala nearly a year ago, the Congress party-led Himachal Pradesh government’s Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh, has written to the central government’s home ministry that it would be tough for them to provide security to the Pakistan squad. The sudden decision by the Himachal Pradesh government, under whose jurisdiction Dharmasala is located, has made Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) worried and has forced them to express their safety concerns.
The Board for Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has assured Pakistan full security and that the match will be held as per schedule in Dharmasala. The root cause of the trouble stems from the fact that Anurag Thakur, the secretary for the BCCI, is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament from this state and stands to gain all the political brownie points for staging the marquee clash in Dharamsala.
Since the Central government is ruled by the BJP, Thakur may get the support and security from the Union Home Ministry to host the match, but without the state government’s support, it would be impossible for the match to be staged there.
Meanwhile, alternate venues are also being considered, with New Delhi emerging as the forerunner and Mohali a close second — the venue hosted the 2011 ICC World Cup match between India and Pakistan.
Thakur has made a dramatic statement offering to step down from Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) post to save this match. “If I am the roadblock, I am willing to step down from HPCA post even today. It is a world event, not a bi-lateral series. I will go to any extent to request anyone with folded hands in the interest of Himachal Pradesh,” said Thakur during an event.
The Himachal government feels that if the match is held in Dharamsala, it will be against the will of the people of his state. The reason stated is that many soldiers from this state had lost their lives in the Pathankot battle against terrorists alleged to be from Pakistan.
Meanwhile, BCCI president Shashank Manohar made a call to his counterpart, Shaharyar Khan, to allay any misgivings about the match. The Himachal Pradesh Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI (M) has openly come out in support of the India-Pakistan match to be held at Dharamsala “The relations with the neighbouring country should not be worsened by such behaviour of the state leaders. We are not in a state of war with Pakistan,” said CPI (M) leader Tikender Panwar.
Meanwhile, Ehsan Mani, the former ICC president, has asked PCB not to play in Dharmasala. “I would advise the PCB to take these threats seriously. Because it involves the security of our players, officials, people and media who will go to India for the event. If this match had involved the Australian team, I am sure by now they would have pulled out of the match,” added Mani.
