Mumbai, Jan 17: Amid simmering tension on the Indo-Pak border, the Pakistan women cricket team's participation in the upcoming World Cup here continued to remain uncertain with security concerns and possible political protests prompting the BCCI to suggest alternative venues.
The BCCI has already apprised the International Cricket Council of the situation prevailing in India following the killing of two Indian soldiers by the Pakistani Army and the game's governing body is expected to take a final decision soon.
With Mumbai Cricket Association making it clear that it would be difficult to host the matches involving Pakistani team in the city, the ICC may have to announce a new venue for the matches.
A day after all the nine Pakistani hockey players, taking part in the Hockey India League, were asked to return home, the fate of Pakistan's women cricket team continued to remain under a cloud with Mumbai and Ahmedabad refusing to host the matches.
Fearing that the matches could be disrupted, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Zaka Ashraf had suggested to the ICC that the entire World Cup tournament should be shifted to South Africa.
“Women's World Cup is an ICC event and if the security is not good enough in India then the world governing body should consider shifting it to a neutral venue like South Africa or somewhere,” he said.
“I would want to leave it ICC to decide. The entire tournament has to go to a neutral venue and a few matches cannot be shifted to another country and rest play somewhere. If it happens in India then there should be proper security arrangement, otherwise it could be shifted to another venue,” Ashraf said.
The MCA and local police authorities here suggested to the ICC that it would be better if matches involving Pakistan in the Women's Cricket World Cup are shifted out of the city.
According to MCA sources, this was done at a meeting held in the association's premises today involving an ICC representative, tournament director Suru Nayak, who is employed with the BCCI, a few top police officials and some MCA office bearers.
“It was told (to ICC representative) that adequate security could be provided to the women cricketers. But the public feeling on the issue was also conveyed and it was mentioned in the current scenario that it would be difficult to stop political parties (from protesting against Pakistan women's team) if the matches are held here,” an MCA official told PTI.
“Nayak said that the ICC would be apprised of what took part in the meeting and they would take a call on the matter within 24 hours,” he added.
Another MCA official said that there is specific threat of disruption of the matches from the Shiv Sena. Yesterday the matter was discussed at the Board's all-powerful Working Committee meeting here and it was decided to convey to the ICC the situation prevailing in the country.
BCCI President N Srinivasan said the issue was now for the ICC to decide.
“We have informed the ICC about it. They will have to examine and take a view,” he said after the meeting. The Gujarat Cricket Association also refused to host the matches after it was approached by the BCCI.
“The BCCI had approached us asking whether Ahmedabad would be in a position to host the ICC Women's World Cup 2013.
But we have refused to host the matches here following rising tension at the border,” GCA secretary Rajesh Patel told PTI.
“Whether to go ahead with the matches at the same venue or shift it to an alternate place will now be decided by the International Cricket Council and the Board of Control for Cricket in India,” he added.
