Published: Mar 05, 2016, 04:30 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 05, 2016, 09:11 AM (IST)
Dharamshala (HP): Demanding that the Pakistan cricket team be not allowed to play in the World T20 match against India on March 19, the Anti-Terrorist Front on Friday threatened that it would dig up the pitch to protest the holding of the match at Dharamshala stadium. “If the Pakistan team comes to Dharamshala to play against Indian cricket team, we will dig up the pitch in HPCA stadium,” national president of Anti-Terrorist Front of India, Virender Shandilya said. “There is a high risk that Pakistani terrorists can enter the area during the match and if Himachal Pradesh government allows the tie, it will be the disrespect towards the martyrs of Pathankot and Pampore,” Shandilya told reporters. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs Pakistan, ICC World T20 2o16, Match 19 at Dharamsala
Shandilya claimed that he had written letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh in this regard and will also meet state Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Leader of Opposition PK Dhumal. “We will protest against this match in Dharamshala in a big way in the coming days,” said Shandilya.
Amidst uncertainty hanging over the India-Pakistan ICC World Twenty20 2016 cricket match scheduled in Dharamsala, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said central paramilitary forces will be provided to ensure security to the March 19 event. “If the [Himachal Pradesh] Chief Minister asks for security forces, we will provide,” he told reporters here. 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.
