Pakistan women's cricket team sleep in stadium

NEW DELHI (AFP) –

Pakistan players invade the pitch to celebrate victory over Bangladesh in the women’s limited-overs gold-medal match at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China on November 19, 2010. Pakistan’s women cricketers, in India for the World Cup, are staying in a stadium clubhouse instead of a hotel for security reasons, the International Cricket Council said.

Pakistan’s women cricketers, in India for the World Cup, are staying in a stadium clubhouse instead of a hotel for security reasons.

The entire squad is living in the clubhouse of the Barabati stadium in the eastern city of Cuttack, where Pakistan are due to play their matches in the eight-nation tournament starting on Thursday.

“I can confirm the team is staying at the Barabati stadium,” an ICC spokeswoman told AFP from Cuttack.

“The ICC considered all options and the best security for the teams, and we have chosen to use the Barabati stadium clubhouse.”

Cuttack was added as a last-minute venue after the right-wing nationalist Shiv Sena party threatened to disrupt Pakistan’s matches in Mumbai, where the entire tournament was originally scheduled to be played.

Matches in group B — featuring Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa — were shunted to Cuttack, where Pakistan will remain if they qualify for the second round.

But the Pakistani team will still have to travel to Mumbai if they make the final at the Brabourne stadium on February 17.

Pakistan team manager Ayesha Ashar said the entire squad was happy with the arrangements made at the Barabati stadium.

“The arrangements are more like we get in Pakistan,” Ashar was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency. “We are happy with the facilities provided to us by the organisers.”

Pakistan open their campaign against Australia at the Barabati stadium on Friday.