Lahore: Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis on Friday said his side will travel to India with a ‘positive frame of mind’ after being approved by their Interior Ministry to participate in the World Twenty20.
“We will go to India with a positive frame of mind and try to do our best,” Waqar said while addressing a press conference here ahead of team’s departure to India.
Earlier in the week, the International Cricket Council had decided to shift the venue for the World T20 group stage clash between India and Pakistan on March 19 from Dharamsala to Kolkata’s Eden Park due to security concerns.
“Situations were much worse when we visited India back in 1999 but Pakistan team performed very well and won the Test series,” the former pace spearhead added.
Pakistan Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan had yesterday said that the national team would be allowed to visit India only after an assurance of foolproof security from the Indian government.
This was prompted after Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had earlier expressed his aversion to the Indo-Pak match in his state after the ex-servicemen and families of slain army officials opposed to stage a match involving Pakistan in the wake of the recent Pathankot attacks.
Ending months of uncertainty, Najam Sethi, the head of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) executive committee, today said that they were satisfied with the security arrangements put in place.
The breakthrough came after the West Bengal Government issued a ‘public guarantee’ of security to the Shahid Afridi-led side for their match in Kolkata.
Pakistan will play their first match in Kolkata on March 16 against a qualifier team before their much-anticipated clash against fierce-rivals India at the same venue three days later. (ANI)