Dharamsala’s loss is Kolkata’s gain as the marquee India-Pakistan encounter of the ICC World Twenty20 (WT20) on March 19 has been shifted to the iconic Eden Gardens.
After several days of suspense, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday confirmed that the much anticipated clash between the arch-rivals has now been officially shifted to Kolkata’s Eden Gardens amid the security concerns raised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over Dharamsala.
“A decision has been taken to relocate the India-Pakistan match from Dharamsala to Kolkata due to security reasons. The match will now be played at the same time and date (March 19, 7:30 p.m.)," ICC Chief Executive Officer Dave Richardson said at a press conference.
“The concerns initially arose following alleged public comments recently reported by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, warning of demonstration and attempts to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the match. Our concerns relate both to uncertainty as to the level of those threats as well as the level of commitment to implement any security plan developed to mitigate such treats," he added.
Meanwhile, Richradson assured the fans that their money will not go waste and they should not worry.
“The people who have bought tickets can either get a refund or can exchange them for the tickets for the Kolkata match," the CEO added.
When asked if India has lost the credibility following the controversy and shifting of venue, Richardson was quick to deny it outrightly.
“ICC has not lost faith in India. There are huge logistics challenges. There are 59 matches in total across eight venues. And first time women matches are also being held (simultaneously.)
“It is too early to take any disciplinary action against state association. If we didn’t have the match, then we would have had more grounds but here we have relocated the match and it was the best option," he said.
Richardson, who earlier in the week sounded confident that Pakistan won’t pull out of WT20, said that now the ball is in Pakistan’s court as ICC and BCCI have done everything possible that could have been done.
“We have conveyed to the PCB that we have done everything we could. If they don’t come even now, then we’ll be forced to consider legalities. BCCI is fulfilling its obligations as regards to conducting the World T20 successfully," said Richardson.
Blaming the state government, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said the board did not leave any stone unturned to conduct the match at Dharamsala but the final decision was in the hands of the ICC. “I don’t know how will the fans react. Himachal [Pradesh] government has embarrassed the country," he said.
“Thousand of people who have already planned this well in advance – I don’t know how they will react when the state falls short of providing security and creating a good atmosphere."
“They [Congress] have again proved that for them it is family first, party second and nation last. The kind of environment they have created has embarrassed the country and the kind of projection they have given is not fair on part of any CM," he added.
When asked whether ICC can fine the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) after the change in the venue of the match – Thakur said, “HPCA has already been known as one of the world’s most beautiful grounds. BCCI have created one of the best facilities available in India.
“Any cricketer or any fan who has travelled to Dharamsala has always appreciated the facilities which we have given. The security is not in our hands. If the head of the state makes some kind of statements, which is against the interest of the state, then it is up to cricket fans and ICC to decide how to react to that but from our side we have left no stone unturned to make it possible," he added.
On Tuesday night, PCB asked the ICC and BCCI to shift the match from Dharamsala in view of security concerns raised by its three-man delegation that visited the venue a day before. Acting on the report, the PCB also delayed their team’s departure to India for the WT20.
A PCB official was quoted as saying by PTI that the PCB had asked the BCCI and ICC to shift the March 19 match from Dharamsala to either Kolkata or Mohali. The Pakistan team was supposed to leave on Wednesday noon from Lahore to New Delhi but the departure was put on hold.
The first round of the WT20 started on Tuesday. The top eight-ranked nations, including Pakistan, will join the competition from the ‘Super 10’ stage that begins on March 15.
Pakistan are due to play their opening match against a first-round qualifier in Kolkata on March 16. The South Asian rivals have not played a full bilateral series since 2007 due to diplomatic tensions.
Comments
0 comment