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WT20: India vs Pak will be held as planned in Dharamsala, says ICC

March 07, 2016 16:34 IST

- 'Challenges in respect to those two venues, they are there. But we are dealing with those problems.'

IMAGE: The Indian team during their practice session at the HPCA stadium in Dharamsala in 2013. Photograph: BCCI

Unfazed by the uncertainty that looms over the World Twenty20 clash between India and Pakistan at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association stadium in Dharamsala, the International Cricket Council on Monday said it is confident of the marquee game going ahead as scheduled and has no plans of shifting the venue.

Besides, the ICC is also not too concerned about the logistical issues faced by Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla ground.

The ICC said it has no intention to change the venues which were decided almost a year back.

"Challenges in respect to those two venues, they are there. But we are dealing with those problems," ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson said in New Delhi.

"The venues were decided a year back and all arrangements are in place to stage the matches at those two venues. These challenges have reasons not through the fault of the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) or the ICC. But the fact is that we are dealing with these and we are confident that the matches will proceed at those two venues.

Meanwhile, a two-member security team from Pakistan has arrived in India on Monday to review the security situation ahead of the national side's visit to Kolkata, where they are scheduled to play their first game of the World T20 on March 16 against the winner of the qualifying group from Group A.

The visit comes amid controversy over the India and Pakistan match scheduled to be played in Dharamsala on March 19.

The fate of the match became uncertain after Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh wrote to the Home Ministry stating that the state government cannot provide security for the game in the wake of the recent terror attack on the Pathankot air base during which two soldiers of the state were martyred.

"The Indian government has shown a commitment to make sure that adequate security measures are in place at all the venues for all the teams," Richardson said.

He also said the ICC is working closely with the BCCI and Pakistan Cricket Board to sort out the issue.

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