Dharamsala eyes ‘political’ intervention to save tie

NEW DELHI: The stand of Himachal Pradesh government remained ‘ambivalent’ on hosting the India-Pakistan World T20 match in Dharamsala even though the BCCI claimed that the state government was ‘fully onboard’.

Sources told HT that now the matter is likely to be taken up at the ‘political level’ with Himachal chief minister Virbhadra Singh. “It could be either Union home minister Rajnath Singh or any other senior minister in the cabinet who may have to speak to Virbhadra Singh in this regard,” said a source.

MK Singla, special secretary (internal security) in the home ministry on Tuesday held a meeting with representatives of the BCCI, Intelligence Bureau and Himachal government but no final decision could be taken.

“The stand of the Himachal government can at best be termed as ambivalent as though the state government officials, including an additional chief secretary, said they were ready to provide security for match but at the same time cited strong anti-Pakistan sentiment among ex-servicemen in the area,” said the source.

In the recent Pathankot attack, few of the security personnel killed by the attackers were from Himachal. The BCCI is very keen to keep the match in Dharamsala keeping to avoid a last minute chaos that a change of venue could entail.

BCCI’s general manager (cricket operations) MV Sridhar said that the Pakistani security team that visited Dharamshala seemed satisfied with the arrangements. He said the local district magistrate and Inspector General of Police assured full protection to players and the venue.

Himachal CM had written to home minister Rajnath Singh in this regard expressing inability to provide security for the match. But BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, who is also a BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh, had termed the decision as politically motivated.