Pakistan want World T20 clash relocated

Pakistan have reportedly requested their World T20 match against India in Dharamsala on March 19 be moved after an internal report deemed 'security is not assured' at the picturesque ground.

ESPNCricinfo is reporting a three-man delegation turned in a report to the Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan's federal interior minister, Chaudary Nisar, resulting in the Pakistan team not travelling to India on Wednesday as planned.

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It is believed the ICC, responding to a request from the PCB that the match be moved, suggested Mohali or Kolkata as alternate venues for the blockbuster match.

Australia open their World T20 campaign a day earlier at the same venue against trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand.

India and Pakistan have not met in a Test match since December 2007, while Pakistan have played just four ODIs and two T20 internationals since then in India, due to ongoing political tensions between the neighbouring nations. 

With the match only 10 days away, a senior Board of Control for Cricket in India official reportedly said the BCCI was aware of the request and confident a different ground could be found, instead suggesting Kolkata and Bangalore as the likely alternatives.

"They have not conveyed it (not playing in Dharamsala) to ICC as a decision, but as a suggestion," the official told ESPNcricinfo.

The report comes only days after ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson said Pakistan's matches would go ahead at the nominated venues as planned. 

"Pakistan won't pull out of World T20," Richardson said. "We are confident that the matches will proceed in respective venues.

"The venues were decided a year back and all arrangements are in place to stage the matches at those two venues (Delhi and Dharamsala).

"These challenges have reasons not through the fault of the BCCI or the ICC. But the fact is that we are dealing with these and we are confident that the matches will proceed at those two venues.

"The Indian government has shown a commitment to make sure that adequate security measures are in place at all the venues for all the teams.

"I can assure you that the BCCI and PCB are communicating, as is the ICC with both the parties. We will make sure we do everything we can to make sure the event takes place in a safe and secure environment."