New Delhi : Hitting out at Pakistan for dawdling over their arrival in India for the World Twenty20 tournament citing security concerns, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday said that he wondered if the neighbouring country’s fear of losing at the hands of the hosts was making them create such a fuss.
“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 here.
Stating that Pakistan was unaware of the fact that law and order was a matter regarding the state government and not the Centre, he added that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s assurances were of no use in the matter.
“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.
Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur took potshots at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the delay in sending the national cricket squad for the World T20 to be held in India, saying the decision to play in multinational tournament is taken by the ICC.
“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,” Thakur told ANI here.
Earlier today, PCB chief Shaharyar Khan said that the board had got the assurance of foolproof security to their team from the Indian Government and the BCCI, adding that they were now waiting for Interior Minister’s decision on the matter.
On Wednesday, the International Cricket Council decided to shift the venue for the World T20 clash between India and Pakistan on March 19 from Dharamsala to Kolkata’s Eden Park due to security concerns.
The decision was taken after the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister expressed his aversion to the match in his state after the ex-servicemen and families of slain army officials opposed to stage an event involving Pakistan in the wake of the recent Pathankot terror attacks.
Pakistan is still unclear on its participation in the WorldT20 tournament even after the Centre, Kolkata government and the BCCI has assured of complete security to the team. (ANI)