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ICC World T20: Tournament director hopeful of India-Pakistan match at Dharamsala

The picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala

MV Sridhar, the Tournament Director for the upcoming ICC World T20, has said that the India-Pakistan match at Dharamsala will most likely go ahead. The match between the two archrivals was in doubt after Pakistan authorities had expressed concerns over security.

A two-member team from Pakistan had arrived in Attari on Monday and proceeded to Dharamsala to review security arrangements for the match scheduled for March 19.

Speaking in Dharamsala on Tuesday, Sridhar said: "I am more than hopeful on behalf of the BCCI and on the behalf of the tournament. Whatever the actual status on the ground has been communicated to the Pakistan team. And now the decision is with them. Obviously, they will also consult their own government, High Commission, based on that they will come back to us."

Recently, the two nations faced each other in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh – a game that was won by India after bowling Pakistan out for just 83. The Men in Blue are also unbeaten against their neighbours in any World T20 match.

Just last week, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had said that his state government could not guarantee safety for the big match. There has been a lot of opposition to the match from people related to army personnel who have been victims of terror attacks.

According to Sridhar, the district administration has guaranteed security for all the World T20 matches to be held in Dharamsala.

"The district administration has very clearly stated that they are committed to giving complete security, not only for the India versus Pakistan match, but for all the matches which are going to be held in Dharamsala. That's the commitment given by both sides -- the administration and the police. So, that has been clearly communicated to the Pakistani delegation," Sridhar added.

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