Fresh doubts over India-Pakistan match as ATFI threatens to dig up Kolkata pitch

Arch-rivals are scheduled to face each other on March 19 in Kolkata

Uncertainty still surrounds the most awaited India-Pakistan clash at ICC World T20 as a new threat emerged on Thursday from a group called Anti-Terrorist Front of India (ATFI).

As news broke of Pakistan-India match being shifted to Eden Gardens in Kolkata instead of Dharamsala, Anti-Terrorist Front of India threatened to dig up the ground, DNA India reported.

Viresh Shandilya, the president of ATFI, said that the group would not allow the Men in Green to play in any part of the country. "We will not allow Pakistan to play cricket anywhere in India at any cost,” said Shandilya.



“We threatened to dig up the pitch in HPCA stadium at Dharamsala, we will do the same at Kolkata,” he upheld.

Earlier on Wednesday, International Cricket Council (ICC) shifted the match between the arch-rivals from Dharamsala to Kolkata after Pakistan’s three member security delegation raised doubts about the team's security at the first proposed venue due to the same threats from the same group.

Shahid Afridi’s men were due to travel to the other side of the border on Wednesday. However, their departure was delayed as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has demanded a written assurance from the Indian Government for the security of the men’s and women’s team for the mega event, before the teams will be allowed to leave for India.

Earlier on March 5, ATFI president said that they would protest to stop the India-Pakistan match in Dharamsala.

“We will protest against this match in Dharamshala in a big way in the coming days,” said Shandilya.

The World T20 will take place from March 8 to April 3 where ten teams will participate.

Earlier on March 2, the interior minister expressed concerns over Indian response on the security and linked the team’s tour with assurance for the same.

On February 29, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said they had conveyed concerns regarding team’s security to the ICC.

India’s Himachal Pardesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh refused to provide security to the team. He suggested the match to be played on March 19 shall be moved from Dharamsala to another venue or cancelled.