Pakistan delay travel for World Twenty20 in India

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has delayed the departure of its??team to India for the World Twenty20 due to security concerns, despite the relocation of their meeting with the hosts.

On Wednesday, the ICC confirmed that the clash between fierce rivals India and Pakistan on March 19 will take place in Kolkata rather than Dharamsala as originally scheduled??amid safety worries.

While the PCB is pleased the venue has been changed to Eden Gardens, it announced the national team will not travel??until further security assurances??are received.

A statement read:??"The PCB welcomes the decision of moving the ICC World T20 Pakistan-India game, scheduled in Dharamsala on 19th March, to Kolkata.

"The PCB had conveyed earlier to the ICC and BCCI [Board of Control for Cricket in India] of its constraints to play in Dharamsala. It was also a recommendation by the security delegation of Pakistan that visited India recently.

"The PCB has also today [Wednesday] conveyed to the ICC and BCCI that our government is expecting an assurance to Pakistan against specific threats to the Pakistan team from various political parties and groups during the tour.

"Pending this assurance and in accordance with the recommendation of the security delegation, the PCB has decided to defer the departure of the Pakistan men's and women's teams to India."