ICC World Twenty20: PCB gets green signal from Pakistan government for participation in mega tournament

New Delhi: Pakistan government on Thursday gave a green signal to its cricket team to participate in the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 to be held in India from March 8.

The decision was taken on Thursday by the government.

"I am pleased that our Government has given its consent for our team to visit India," PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan was quoted as saying by Geo News.

"As a duty of care, we have asked ICC to put in place special arrangements for the Pakistan cricket team while in India we will also be expecting visa facilitation and other arrangements for the Pakistani fans wishing to visit India for the ICC World T20 2016," he said.

Earlier, speaking over the matter, PCB media director Amjad Hussain said, "We expect the government to decide on the matter within this week. We are well prepared in case the government gives permission for the team to travel to India. The visa applications for the players and support staff have been processed, which is part of standard procedure.”

Pakistan are scheduled to play their World Cup opener at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 16, following which they are scheduled to play hosts India in Dharamsala, at the backdrop of Himalayas, on March 19.

They play their last two league games in Mohali, against New Zealand and Australia, on March 22 and March 25 respectively.

Security issues will not be much of an issue as Pakistan had sent its sportspersons for the South Asian Games in Guwahati which was a success.

Earlier, two countries tried to revive cricketing ties on the field. The proposed bilateral series in December could not take place after the Indian government did not give the nod to the BCCI, though the Pakistan government had cleared the series.

The last time Pakistan had toured India was in 2012 for a short ODI series.

(With PTI inputs)