ICC World Twenty20: Pakistan cricket team finally arrives in India

New Delhi: Pakistan cricket team finally arrived in Kolkata, amid tight security on Saturday for the ICC World Twenty20. 

Pakistan side on Friday got government clearance to participate in the ICC World Twenty20 after security assurances from the host nation.

On the basis of pukka assurances from the Home Ministry of India & CM Bengal, Ch Nisar has granted permission to PCB to send Team to India. — Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) March 11, 2016

Due to the delay in travel clearance, Pakistan's first warm-up match against Bengal on Saturday has been cancelled but the team will take on Sri Lanka on Sunday in its second practice game.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too guaranteed foolproof security arrangements for the much-awaited India-Pakistan match on March 19 at the Eden Gardens.

"Whenever guests come to our state, we extend all help and cooperation. Law and order is a state subject. BCCI has told us (about the match) and we have said we will extend all kinds of help," the Chief Minister said.

In a letter to CAB President Sourav Ganguly on Friday, Banerjee said the state government would make all security-related arrangement for hosting the match and asked him to communicate it to the ICC and BCCI. 

The Chief Minister has also given necessary instructions to the law enforcement authorities for smooth conduct of the match at the Eden Gardens, officials said. 

Right through the week, there were reports suggesting the Pakistan team could refrain from participating in the mega event.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan had earlier said that if Pakistan didn't go to India for the World T20, the PCB could incur losses of around USD 15 million which was a big amount at this time.

(With PTI inputs)