SPORTS Saturday, 5 March, 2016
PM orders security assessMent before Pakistan’s World t20 ParticiPation ISLAMABAD
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STAFF REPORT
RIMe Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday ordered Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali to ‘send a team to India’ to assess measures adopted for Pakistan cricketers’ security for the World T20. A decision on Pakistan’s participation in the World T20, being hosted by India from March 8 to April 3, hinges on a clearance report by the security team, read a statement released from the premier’s office. A final decision on whether Pakistan’s cricket team will fly to India will be made after a report is submitted by the ‘security team’, said the statement. In a meeting with Nisar at the Prime Minister House, Nawaz directed to ensure “fool proof security measures for the team in coordination
with the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi”. The development came after the chief minister of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, Virbhadra Singh, called for the India-Pakistan World T20 tie to be moved to another venue ‘out of respect for those killed in the assault by militants on an Indian air force base in Pathankot’. He threatened to not provide security for Pakistan’s players at the Himachal Pradesh cricket ground in the Himalayan town of Dharamsala where the clash is due to take place on March 19. But yesterday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur was optimistic that the match will go ahead as per schedule. He had a meeting with Singh and was positive that the state government would not have any reservations in hosting the much-anticipated encounter. The statement issued by the prime
Painful watching Pakistan play like this: Shaharyar Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, has hinted at sweeping changes in Pakistan’s entire management, following the team’s early exit in the Asia Cup. Shaharyar has formed a special committee, which includes former T20 captains Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan, to monitor Pakistan’s performance and examine the selection process for the upcoming World Twenty20*. Shakil Sheikh, who heads the PCB’s cricket committee, will chair the special committee, which also includes PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad and former chief selector Iqbal Qasim. Shaharyar, however, insisted that Shahid Afridi will remain captain of the T20 side unless he himself pulls out. Pakistan lost their opening match of the Asia Cup to India, beat UAe convincingly, only to bow out of the tournament after defeat at the hands of Bangladesh. More worryingly for the team, Pakistan’s batting issues resurfaced in Bangladesh, with three wickets falling during the Powerplay in each game. “It wasn’t just a matter of disappointment but it was a painful experience to watch Pakistan play like that,” Shaharyar said. “The performance was very poor other then few individuals’ performances, but I can assure that accountability is inevitable and whoever is responsible has to answer. Changes are important in the electoral process and leadership but we have to sit and think wisely. We are not going to make anyone a scapegoat or do the witch hunt but whatever we will do, it will be done with clarity.” Afridi’s role as captain came under scruntiny after Pakistan controversially dropped Wahab Riaz for Anwar Ali in the game against Bangladesh. It was also observed that Afridi was missing from training sessions and skipped meetings with the coaching staff. “I understand there is a lot of criticism but I am not going to change anything one week before the major tournament in India,” Shaharyar said. “Afridi will remain captain unless he himself pulls out of the job. He has been serving Pakistan
from the last 15 years. There are problems in his captaincy which can’t be mended and especially at a time when his career is about to be end. “Also, we don’t want to disregard the longest serving players of Pakistan cricket. So, I am not going to push a panic button and take any decision in haste. This is not my style. Some changes you will see will be done before we play our first matches in World T20 and other important changes will be done after the tournament.” Pakistan have already rejigged their original 15-man squad ahead of the Asia Cup and World T20 by adding Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Sami and Khalid Latif. After the Asia Cup debacle, Shaharyar hinted at another wave of change, with the new ICC regulations allowing teams to change their squads before the start of the tournament. The selectors are considering dropping Khurram Manzoor, whose inclusion did not impress Waqar Younis, for the excluded Ahmed Shehzad. It is also understood that one of the senior members of the team management touched upon Salman Butt’s name, mentioning his utility after he was the second-highest run-getter in the recently-concluded National One-Day Cup, where he finished with 536 runs at 107.20. Manzoor’s controversial selection was cited as a “judgement error” by Shaharyar. “It wasn’t an unfair call but I did show my reservation. Haroon Rashid made his point that Khurram is the best they have for the opening slot as there is no alternative. AgENcIES
Paramilitary forces to be deployed during Indo-Pak World Twenty20 cricket match, says Rajnath Singh NEW DELHI ONLINE
India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Friday that paramilitary forces will be provided to ensure security to the March 19 World Twenty20 cricket match between India-Pakistan scheduled in Dharamsala. A cloud hangs over the marquee match between India and Pakistan in Dharamsala on March 19 with Himachal Pradesh’s ex-servicemen protesting against the game in the wake of January 2 Pathankot terror attacks. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Tuesday had written a letter to the union home
minister stating that his government cannot provide security for the match. The chief minister had also said that war veterans of the state did not want the IndoPak match to be held in Dharamsala. “They are not opposing the holding of matches. They are against the Pakistan team playing in Himachal Pradesh,” Singh had said. BCCI secretary and BJP MP Anurag Thakur said he was hopeful of the match happening in the hill station following his meeting with the Chief Minister. Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shaharyar Khan had also written to BCCI seeking assurance of foolproof security to Pakistani players. Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore.
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minister also sought a report from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on the team’s dismal performance in the Asia Cup T20. earlier on Friday, the PCB took on board Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq and veteran batsman Younis Khan to examine Pakistan’s disastrous Asia Cup T20 campaign and the ‘confused’ team selection for the World T20. PCB chief Shaharyar Khan slammed the team’s performance but said that it was too late to make sweeping changes ahead of the World Cup. Pakistan lost to arch rival India and host Bangladesh, and only managed to beat United Arab emirates, raising serious doubts about their potential to challenge for the title in the tournament. Shaharyar said everyone from the coach to those involved in the selection process would be held accountable but added that there would be no knee-jerk reaction.