Pakistan women's cricket team's departure for World T20 put on hold

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have decided against sending their national women’s team for the ICC World T20 on security grounds. The cricket board wants a written assurance before they send their team for the tournament.

The women’s team was scheduled to leave on Tuesday afternoon, but their departure has been put on hold as question marks over security remain. "Their departure has now been put on hold as we are in touch with the government on the security issues in India," PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan said.

Khan also said that the women’s team hadn’t received their visas yet.

Earlier, the former career Pakistan diplomat had said that the PCB will be sending a three-member team to assess the security situation in India. The team will arrive in India on Monday.

"The situation now is that only after this security team gives the okay can we send the team to India. The government has given us clearance to play in the World T20 but after the security concerns surrounding the Pakistan and India match in Dharamsala a report was given to the Prime Minister," Shaharyar had said.

The Pakistan women’s team are placed in Group B with India, England, West Indies and Bangladesh with their matches scheduled to be held in Chennai and Delhi. Their first match is against the West Indies on March 16.

In the previous edition of the competition, Pakistan’s women had finished 7th after a playoff win over Sri Lanka.