Women’s World Cup: Pakistan confident of team’s security in India

ICC shifts matches from Mumbai to Cuttack after threats from Shiv Sena.

GUJRANWALA: PCB chief Zaka Ashraf on Tuesday expressed confidence that Indian authorities would provide security to his women’s team in the upcoming World Cup.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) shifted Pakistan’s matches from Mumbai to Cuttack following threats by the right-wing Shiv Sena party. The tournament is to be held from January 31 to February 17.

“ICC is responsible for providing security to Pakistan women’s team and we have confidence on the ICC and we are in touch with them over the issue,” Ashraf told reporters in the city of Gujranwala.

Despite the change in venue, two other right-wing parties – Bajrang Dal and Kalinga Sena – have also threatened to disrupt Pakistan’s matches in Cuttack. But Ashraf said he is confident that the ICC will handle the situation.

Pakistan team will fly to India on January 26.

“I think sports and politics should not be mixed and it’s disappointing when such issues come up,” said Ashraf.

Tensions between India and Pakistan were heightened early this month by a series of cross-border exchanges along the Line of Control (LoC). The two countries had recently revived their bilateral cricketing ties with Pakistan team crossing the border to play two Twenty20 and three one-day internationals - their first tour of India in five years.Ashraf hoped bilateral ties will continue.

“India agreed to the tour after our persuasion and I hope the ties will continue,” said Ashraf.

Jaipur Literature Festival

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also warned that Pakistani writers should not attend Jaipur Literature Festival, Times of India reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, the Pakistani authors including Jamil Ahmad and Mohammed Hanif attended the event last year but because of the recent cross-border conflict, BJP has decided to oppose their presence.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2013.