Pakistan want Kolkata or Mohali to stage World T20 clash against India

Pakistani security team arrive at Dharamsala to conduct a security assessment © AFP

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shahryar Khan said on Tuesday (March 8) evening that conflicting signals emanating from India over Dharamshala as the venue for the India-Pakistan World T20 match have forced them to seek a change in location for the marquee contest.

The PCB sent a letter to this effect to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday. Late-night TV reports said the Pakistani security team had advised the cricket squad to not travel to Dharamshala and even the trip to Kolkata on Wednesday may be delayed by a day.

"The Himachal CM has not committed full security for the match and the Indian government has also not come up with any assuring statement so far," Khan told TOI. "Under the circumstances, how can we allow our team to play there?"

A concerned PCB boss said the "real issue" was lack of clarity from the Indian government after the "Dharamshala tension" erupted. "Our real problem is that we haven't got any security arrangement details from the government of India. We are still waiting to hear from them officially. We at least need to be told about the position of the protesters in Dharamashala or about Shiv Sena's threat," Khan said.

Khan said PCB would consult the government of Pakistan before taking a final call. According to him, the PCB wants either Mohali or Kolkata to stage their World T20 clash against India.

"I have sent an email to the ICC that if Dharamshala has a problem hosting Pakistan-India World T20 game, the match should be played either in Mohali or Kolkata. The Pakistan board is also open to the idea of playing it else where as long as the safety and security of the Pakistani cricketers is taken care of."

Khan said that since Pakistan are already playing their matches in Mohali and Kolkata, it would be easy for the team to play at these venues. Sources in Pakistan cricket establishment told TOI that there are concerns across the border over how police will control unruly mobs, over security of Pakistani fans and journalists and also about the arrangements if Pakistan wins the game. Khan, however, refused to comment on it.

© TNN

Arthur backs Australia to win World T20

Arthur wants Watson to open alongside Warner. © Getty

Despite stuttering noticeably in T20 cricket and having to combat challenging conditions in the sub-continent, Australia has the firepower and experience to win a belated World T20. That is the confident prognostication from former Australia coach Mickey Arthur.

Australia are the 50-over world champions and have recently returned to the top of the Test tree but are shockingly ranked eighth in T20 cricket. Rankings can be viewed as trivial because of the lack of international T20 matches but, regardless, it is a format Australia have never truly grasped despite having the thriving Big Bash League (BBL) in their backyard.

Australia snapped a five-game T20 losing streak after they incredibly defeated South Africa by successfully chasing 205 in Johannesburg on March 6 (Sunday). They were humiliatingly whitewashed against India at home in January, raising major doubts on their ability to break their World T20 duck.

However, Arthur believes Australia should "absolutely not be underestimated". "I wouldn't write them off," Arthur tells CricBuzz. "Australia has enough experienced players who have played in Indian conditions at the IPL. Their form has been patchy but they are capable of turning it on when it matters most."

Australia's explosive batting depth is undoubtedly their strength, underlined by BBL star performers Shaun Marsh, Chris Lynn and Travis Head all missing out on a World T20 berth. Arthur believes Australia's batting unit can post match-winning totals.

"Australia are capable of scoring massive totals," Arthur said. "They only need one or two players to fire and they can produce big scores. The question for me though is what is their best combination? Who opens the batting?

"I still think (David) Warner is best suited to opening, as is (Shane) Watson. Perhaps Aaron Finch will have to make way at the top."

In contrast to their batting, Australia's bowling looms as a major weakness as evident against India, whose top-order torched Australia's attack with utter disdain. Missing Mitchell Starc, arguably the world's best white ball bowler, is a blow but not a fatal one for Australia, according to Arthur.

"Mitchell Starc is a massive loss because he can bowl at 150kmh and is a strike bowler who just always takes wickets," Arthur said. "I still think Australia has enough talent in their attack. They have a good death bowler in James Faulkner and I believe Andrew Tye can also play a key role because he is adept at the middle and late overs.

"As the frontline spinner, Adam Zampa will play a key role in the middle overs. Those overs are so important to slow the runs down and Zampa is capable of doing that."

Australia has so thoroughly dominated ODI World Cups but, frustratingly, are without silverware at the World T20 with their best result being runners-up at the 2010 tournament in the Caribbean.

Arthur, who coached Australia from 2011-13 including at the 2012 World T20, said Australia's lack of success in the format over the years can be attributed to "not playing their best team".

"The continuity of the T20 team has always been a problem, and I know when I was coach we used the T20 matches to rest players and have a look at other talent," Arthur said. "Perhaps Australia in the early years saw the format as hit and giggle but that quickly changed. When I was coach we took it seriously and embraced it but, apart from the World T20, there was no continuity in the team."

At the 2012 World T20 in Sri Lanka, Arthur's Australia made the semi-final before a Chris Gayle-inspired West Indies knocked them out of the tournament. A brilliant all-round display by Shane Watson spearheaded Australia's run in that campaign, and Arthur said the current team boasted the requisite superstars to be a legitimate contender.

"I think India without a doubt has the best all-round team and deserve to be favourites," he said.

"But it is pretty open after that and Australia has as good a chance as anyone because they have match-winning players.If a few of their big names perform, then Australia can definitely win the World Cup."

via- Cricbuzz