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India vs Pakistan: After venue shift, ICC World Twenty20 match in fresh trouble
ICC on Wednesday moved the high-profile match to Kolkata.
New Delhi: Even after the change in the venue of the 2016 ICC World Twenty20's India-Pakistan fixture, a fresh trouble emerges for the organisers of the event.
According to media reports, Anti-Terrorist Front of India (ATFI) , which has been stridently opposing the Pakistan cricket team playing in India, on Wednesday threatened to dig up the pitch at Eden Gardens.
Yesterday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) finally accepted a request from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and moved the March 19 match at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.
The ATFI has been opposing hosting of the Pakistan team until the terror masterminds behind the Mumbai, Pathankot and the recent Pampore attacks are handed to India by Pakistan.
ICC CEO Dave Richardson told reporters in Delhi: "We have taken the decision after consulting with our security officers. We are responsible for the security of teams. Their safety is of prime concern."
However, ATFI has threatened to conduct protests and dig up the pitch.
"Hosting of Pakistan in India is a grave insult to all our brave soldiers who were martyred in these attacks. We will not allow the match at any cost, we will dig up the Eden pitch, there will be massive protests," ATFI national president Viresh Shandilya told IANS.
"The ATFI now is holding a meet to decide our course of action. How can the Indian cricket board be insensitive to undermine the tears of widows of our martyrs? We will hold protests across Kolkata including the airport," he added.
The organisation had earlier also threatened to dig up the pitch at the HPCA stadium in Dharamshala which was scheduled to host the March 19 India-Pakistan match.