The Pakistan government cleared the national cricket team's participation in the World Twenty20 on Friday after hosts India "addressed concerns about the safety and security of their players," according to Asad Hashim of REUTERS. The "much-anticipated" March 19 clash between the neighbors had "earlier been shifted to Kolkata following Pakistan's security concerns over the original venue Dharamsala." Pakistan had said that "its men's and women's teams would travel to India only after New Delhi gave a public guarantee on the safety of its players." Pakistan Cricket Board Exec Committee Chair Najam Sethi said, "I would like to give you and cricket lovers the good news that Chaudhry Nisar (Ali Khan), the Interior Minister, has given permission to send the Pakistan cricket team to play the Twenty20 on the basis of solid assurances." Sethi said that Pakistan had "received assurances from the state of West Bengal, where Kolkata is in, and the Indian Home Ministry." Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that Pakistan should not have any safety concerns in India, while Junior Minister Kiren Rijiju promised "foolproof security" (REUTERS, 3/11).
