Will provide security for Indo-Pak World T20: Rajnath

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the Centre would provide security if the Himachal Pradesh Government demands the same for the much-awaited World T20 match between India and Pakistan scheduled on March 19.

"If Himachal Pradesh Government demands security forces from Centre, we will provide them," said Singh.

Earlier, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had 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 attack.

However, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur asserted that a decision was taken that any bilateral match between India and Pakistan will not be held in Dharamsala following a meeting with the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister but the World T20 game must take place as the state and country's image is at stake.

On Thursday, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan had threatened to pull out of the T20 format's pinnacle event if they failed to get clarity about the security situation from the Indian government.

Dismissing all such concerns, senior BCCI functionary Rajeev Shukla assured that the visitors will be given foolproof security. "We will be providing foolproof security to the Pakistan cricket team. All the players will be safe. Now, it is for Pakistan cricket board to take a decision.