NEW DELHI: After days of speculation on their safety, It has been decided that Pakistan Women will play their ICC Women’s World Cup matches in the eastern Indian state of Orissa.
The matches, initially scheduled to be held in Mumbair, saw a change in venue following threats from extremist Hindus in Mumbai.
The team will be based in Cattuck and all Group B matches will be played there while Group A will play their match at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
Late Friday evening, Orissa Cricket Association in a release said that Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials and tournament director – Suru Nayak – will arrive to discuss the arrangements at the Barabati Stadium in Cattuck, on January 22.
BCCI had earlier said that adequate measures to provide security will be put into place. “We would provide security to Women’s World Cup matches in India. We are in the process of speaking to respective state governments,” said Rajiv Shukla, Vice President, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Border conflict between India and Pakistan in the last two weeks had resulted in security concerns for the women’s team. Groups like Shiv Sena had threatened disruptions in any sporting tournament which featured Pakistan players. As a result, nine hockey players included in various teams featuring in Hockey India League were sent back home.
BCCI in its executive committee meeting on Tuesday, had written to ICC and has asked the international body to take a call. While some said that Pakistan Cricket Board has expressed a desire to have the tournament in South Africa instead of India.
