Anurag Thakur warns over India-Pakistan clash

Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur has accused the Himachal Pradesh government of "playing politics" by saying it cannot provide security for the World Twenty20 match between India and Pakistan.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has reportedly written to India's Home Minister Rajnath Singh stating that the Group 2 clash on March 19 should not be staged in Dharamsala.

A bilateral series between the two arch-rivals scheduled for last December was cancelled due to political tensions.

Thakur said it is too late for the Himachal Pradesh government to say that the eagerly awaited contest should not be held at the HPCA Stadium.

He told reporters: "The venues of the World Cup matches were decided one year ago, the allotment of matches was decided six months ago. People all over have made bookings and it is not fair to give such statements at the last minute.

"The Congress-led state government is clearly playing politics. Hundreds of Pakistani athletes were given security during the South Asian Games in Assam, why can't the Himachal government do the same?

"By claiming that you cannot provide security, you are only giving credence to Pakistani claims that there is a security threat to their team in India. It's about the country's image, you cannot play politics over it."