Change of India-Pakistan World T20 venue not possible: Anurag Thakur
BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur ruled out the possibility of change in the venue for the India-Pakistan World T20 match, scheduled to be held at Dharamsala on March 19. Thakur, BJP MP from Hamirpur, asked the state government and people to shun their hostility against the match which is part of the ICC tournament.
Interacting with the media after launching Swacch Himachal campaign, Thakur offered to quit his post as HPCA president if the same was a hurdle in holding the match at the picturesque venue.
“I can go to any extent to see that Himachal Pradesh does not get a blot for its inability to hold a match. The match was allotted to the state under pressure from the ICC, which made the PCB agree for playing in India. By not allowing the match, we will only vindicate Pakistan’s stand that India was hostile to the team. Let’s be hospital, which is character of Himachal Pradesh, not hostile,” said Thakur.
Indian cricket board’s secretary feared that ICC could well cancel all the T-20 matches allotted to Dharamsala and would also blacklist the HPCA for future matches .
Anurag said he would be requesting everyone with folded hands, also to the families of the martyrs and the government, to let the match take place as schedule and see how much gains state makes in terms of its prestige and tourism.
On his meeting with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, BCCI secretary said “the meeting was held in very cordial atmosphere. CM also feels that matches should be held and state government was competent to provide security. It’s in the interest of the state and country to host this particular match. We have lot of respect for the soldiers and martyrs and ex-servicemen”
Thakur further said that he has assured the CM that HPCA will not host any bilateral match with Pakistan till conditions at the border improves.
