ISLAMABAD: A week after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said the government had allowed the cricket team to participate in the World Twenty20 Championship being held in India, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has spoken of security threat to the team during the ‘possible’ tour.

“The Pakistan cricket team can be allowed to visit India only after a guarantee of foolproof security,” the minister said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that foolproof security for the team was a responsibility of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

He said a report about the team’s expected visit would be presented to the prime minister after consultation with the PCB chairman.

A press release issued by the PCB on Feb 25 quoted its Chairman Shahryar Khan as saying: “I am pleased that our government has given its consent to our team’s visit to India. As a duty of care, we have asked the ICC to put in place special arrangements for the Pakistan cricket team while in India.

“We also expect visa facilitation and other arrangements for Pakistani fans wishing to visit India for the World T20.”

Tensions between Pakistan and India appeared to be spilling over into the sporting realm when Chaudhry Nisar had in November last year opposed the idea of sending the team across the border.

Alleging that the Indian government was patronising terrorist activities of Shiv Sena, he had said: “This is not about money; it’s an issue that involves Pakistan’s dignity and honour. Though the final decision is to be taken by the prime minister, I will oppose any tour (of the team) to India under the present circumstances if it comes under discussion at a cabinet meeting or any other forum.”

He said the Indian government and its agents had ridiculed Pakistan and the treatment meted out to Shahryar Khan, Najam Sethi, Ghulam Ali and Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri was an example of that.

“If the Indian government is not behind this, it should tell the world what action it had taken against such people,” he had said.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2016