Pakistan reached Cuttack from New Delhi on Sunday to participate in the ICC Women’s World Cup. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
In the wake of protests and threats by India’s right-wing parties, the Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) was forced to arrange separate accommodation for the Pakistan women’s team inside the Barbati Stadium in Cuttack, after five-star hotels showed reluctance to provide hospitality.
According to The Times of India, “The Pakistani players would have faced trouble while travelling from Bhubaneswar to Cuttack for the matches,” said OCA secretary Asirbad Behera. “So we have arranged for their accommodation on the Barabati Stadium premises.”
Pakistan reached Cuttack from New Delhi on Sunday to participate in the ICC Women’s World Cup. The side, led by Sana Mir, was escorted by a heavy deployment which safely took the visiting side to the stadium.
Several parties in India had issued warnings against Pakistan’s participation in India due to cross-border tensions which had forced the Indian board to move their matches from Mumbai.
According to the report, as most hotels in the city refused to host the Pakistani side under immense pressure and threats, the team will be confined to the stadium throughout the tournament. However, the remaining group B teams playing their matches in Cuttack – Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – will stay in hotels in Bhubaneswar.
Right-wing religious parties had warned hoteliers in Bhubaneswar against offering “hospitality to the Pakistani players”, following which posh hotels in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack withdrew, forcing the decision to house the players on the stadium premises.
However, the OCA promised the best lodging for the team at the stadium.
“Accommodation for the Pakistan team became a headache,” an OCA official told The Times of India before adding that the decision was taken to ensure safety for the visitors.
“We will provide five-star facilities to the players at the Club House in the stadium. The Club House is equipped with a world class gymnasium and swimming pool.
Amid heightened security
According to Indian media reports, around 600 security personnel, including officials, Special Security Battalion and Odisha police were deployed upon the team’s arrival to ensure their safety on the way to the stadium.
Director General of Police (DGP) Prakash Mishra visited the stadium to review the security set-up and held discussions with OCA officials about the arrangements, the report revealed. “Matches involving the Pakistan team will be played at Barabati and elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure foolproof security to the players,” the DGP was quoted as saying.
Manager urges fans show up at matches
Meanwhile, Pakistan team manager Ayesha Ashar said her side was well-prepared to put up an exciting performance in the World Cup.
“I am grateful for receiving a warm welcome from all the fans,” said Ayesha after her arrival in Cuttack. “I will ask Indian fans to come in numbers to watch our matches.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2013.
COMMENTS (53)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1731637727-0/Bear--(1)1731637727-0-165x106.webp "article")
1731619853-0/ice-cream-(1)1731619853-0-165x106.webp "article")
1708870589-2/PATS-(3)1708870589-2-270x192.webp "army brig takes the helm to purge punjab of drug abuse")
1731647129-0/Untitled-design-(56)1731647129-0-270x192.webp "internet curbs may cost pakistan dearly")
Why does it sound like Tribune wants us to think its because of security concerns that our team is confined to the stadium? The truth is the hotels refused to accommodate our team after the extremist hindu nationalist party threatened all hotels and clearly announced their hatred towards Pakistan and all its people... again!
Maybe its because the enlightened, liberal, modern folk here in Pakistan just cannot see "Hindu Extremism" coming from a party whose candidates are running for key political positions including PM & P.
Sad!
http://www.thetrueperspective.com/2013/01/Pakistan-women-cricket-team-confined-stadium-cuttack.html
@usman:
And you Pakistani's are afraid of a 15 year old (Malala). This so called Lionhearts simply can't stand a blog. Shame on you.
Pakistani Govt should immediately bring back our team from India because it is not the case of extremism but case of dignity. Shame on Indian Extremist Parities who don't know the respect of women.
Despite our shortfalls its never happen in Pak. that the whole city goes against any sport team. Why 1.2 billion people r affraid of 12 girls
Bring them back at once!!! Why dont our people use the same tactics as others???
Dear all, "Extremists" have no nationality, no religion......what they want is to make people suffer whether the people who has to suffer is Pakistani or any other national. In the current circumstances, the extremists got opportunity because of the current tensions between Pakistan and India on the border line. So, We should pray that the tensions between both arch rivals may decrease and we all have a safe homeland to live in...... We all are human first...then any other national.....Humans need peace and prosperity...........
Where are all the Indian posters who love to analyse our (Pakistan's) problems now? Your country is filled with narrow minded and extremists too. How sad that a women's cricket team is not allowed to play a sport in the "world largest secular democracy"...my foot! Go Team Pakistan...do your best in these trying circumstances.
@Tony Singh: Yeah the only difference is that in your cities, it the government, businesses and people like yourself who are touch lower than that standard
@Umer: you can conduct the tournament in pak
India is clearly not a safe place to conduct international tournaments!!
It's really disgusting that they are even targeting the women!! How are these extremists different from the TTP etc? Are they terrorists as well or is the definition of terrorist not include them?
no need to play with India , such a drama queen
And then we LOVE the indians and consider them better than ourselves. This should be an eye opener for us all!
@Barrister: Unlike in your country, no one is shooting at the players.. So time to shut up.
@Barrister: @Sunni Tehreek: Agree with both of you and Pakistan's women cricket team has to be returned back to Pakistan because if our sisters shall not play in India in WCC 2013 then nothing shall go wrongful in WCC 2013 in India because India has shown and has been showing its real and true face of prejudice and hypocrisy about/for Pakistan and now why ICC is showing greatest ever effrontery,meanness and silence on this Indian government's prejudicial attitude with Pakistan's women cricket team and where are ICC's code of conducts for the ICC's members' countries?????
Shame on us (Pakistanis) that our women cricket team's players are not allowed to stay in the hotels and have been coerced to stay in the stadium and we should never play in India and this is totally abstruse and esoteric that why PCB,Zaka Asrharf and PPP's government are showing greatest ever effrontery and meanness by allowing for staying and playing Pakistan's women cricket team in India under these shameful conditions?And in the last one thing that has been confirmed,is est,if you have dual-faced,double-standard and hypocritical friend like India then you don't need to have enemies and foes around you because India is sufficient and good enough for you to fulfill all your requirements......
Shame on Indian govt. Pakistani should immediately come back. ICC should cancel the tournament and penalize India for this disgruntle act.
This is the reason and it comes up time and time again. Why do Pakistanis worship Bollywood like mad and if an Indian visits Pakistan treat them with so much respect when a Pakistani visits India they treat them like scum. Why cannot Pakistanis realise that you should raise your self-respect and cancel all friendly matches in India as they truly are NOT FRIENDLY at all!
@Barrister: @Sunni Tehreek:
Read the report more carefully.
“We will provide five-star facilities to the players at the Club House in the stadium. The Club House is equipped with a world class gymnasium and swimming pool.
this is how one's treated when it voluntarily gives up its own dignity. no harm in having a good relations with neighbors but not like this. A dont forget its INDIA not China or any such country
This is just not right !! where is ICC now??
@Barrister: @Sunni Tehreek: Oh.. Comeon you guys and ET.. Get your facts right.. CRYBABIES..
http://ibnlive.in.com/cnnibnvideos/top-us/369620.html
if it had been Pakistan, same like world cup ICC should had taken all matches out of Pakistan.
but with BCCI, ICC is just a lap dancer for them and move on BCCI finder tip. Such a pathetic management and insulting show from ICC.
What's the point to be there in the first place, what has changed in the last 100+ years, nothing and will never change, this was the reason Pakistan was created.
I am ashamed because since childhood we have been taught that guest is like a God. ( Atithi Bhagwan Ka Roop Hota Hai). I genuinely feel that this team has been insulted. They seem to be full of confidence and I wish them a grand success in India.
This now shows the true face of India, what you used to see on their newspapers and media now comming in real action. How closed or extremely narrow minded and full of hatred can a culture be. I don't think there is any other country on the planet that is displays so much hatred toward others as India has shown in these few days. Just read their online comments, they have always been full of intolerance, hatred, immateur behavior, and propagation of violence toward one country in particlar - Pakistan. Why then are we so much in Love with India. We still love watching their movies, our sportsmen and women love to go to India, why have we forgotten the past track record of that country all of a sudden. Taali aik haath se nehi bajti, it takes two to tango. We need to really think about the extent of what type of diplomatic behavior we need to have with India, after what they have been doing. We can not be Nice all the time to them and say "never mind" we understand why you don't like us so much, its our fault... We need to stop being so appologetic and start to take a solid stand.
The HOSTILITY by Indians to the ladies cricket team shows how good HOST they are!
For all my patience towards these (adj...), Indians I,have had enough of them and their discriminatory small minds. Pakistan should recall the team and no peace talks with these (adj..). I am livid!
Now that is extremism in its worst form! SHAME!!!!!
Why don't I see the comments of Liberals here ?
And guys u claim to be the biggest democracy in the world and your constitution states in its preamble that India is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. Ironic if your secular state does not teach you tolarence and sportsmanship. Grow up!
The best revenge would be to win!
Disgusting & shows the sick mentality! Bravo Pakistani girls keep your spirits high and the nation will pray for you..
An eye opener for Aman ka Tamasha people.Digusting and shows the sick mentality..
ICC should note that this might be a big question mark on India as a venue for international teams as well. The Pakistani team has shown a really big heart for sports.
This is the reality of so calle "Amman ki Aasha" aka. Amman ka Tamassha.
Something like this happened in Pakistan, it'd be front page news all over the world. "CRICKET TEAM STUCK IN STADIUM DUE TO THREATS IN PAKISTAN"
@Barrister: Did you read whole news or just headline only. Did you miss security detail. Well I think it is better than security provided to Sri Lankan team.
These right-wing religious parties are openly challenging the writ of the government and the only solution for the law enforcing agencies is to keep the players at the stadium. Is this the so called “Incredible India” or what?
India.. Incredible India....
This is what Pakistanis are made off, tough as nails and no sissys .. no hotel? no problem. Bring it on :) Kudos to these girls. Made us proud already.
If this was happening to an international team in Pakistan, the ICC would have moved the tournament from Pakistan. Shame on you PCB and Govt. of Pakistan for not doing anything.
why a nation of 1.2 billion people is affraid of 12 girls? Pak.no group or party dare to protest openly in streets against any sport team including india. In that aspect we. are more mature then our indian counterparts.
where are all indians that thinks its their responsibility to post comment on every thing that has somethng against pakistan. i cant see any now
See guys I told you na Indians have small hearts
An absolute shame on India. InshaAllah when Pakistan regains some sense of integrity and honor in its Pakistan this episode will cost India politically !
India is showing its true groosom face to th world.
This gives a good description of the indian mentality. Shameful.
Man that is just disgusting! The Indian government should either provide security to our team or not host global ICC tournaments. How will our team even be able to perform if they are confined to the stadium?
No need to play there under such circumstances. They should come back right now.