Players were given option of pulling out of WT20: PCB chief

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan today said the national cricket team players were given the option of pulling out of the tour to India for the World Twenty20 if they have any security concerns.

“I told them if any of them had any reservations they should inform me or the manager Intikhab Alam. My point was that if any player felt he would not able to focus on cricket in India in given circumstances he can withdraw from the squad,” Shaharyar told a news conference in Lahore.

He said none of the players accepted this option and all of them made it clear they wanted to go to India to play in the World T20.

The PCB chief met with the players in Lahore yesterday to brief them about the issues surrounding the World T20 in India and the background for the government wanting full security assurances from the Indian government to give permission to the team to play in India.

“I am very happy that the team is going to India and although there might be some minor incidents but we are sure the security of our team will be top notch,” he said.

Shaharyar, a former career diplomat, said he was confident that the Indian people would give a warm welcome to the Pakistan team.

“Unfortunately due to these issues the team can play only one warm-up match against Sri Lanka instead of the schedule two as they will reach Kolkata tomorrow since they will take an indirect flight,” said the PCB chief.