New Delhi: With the announcement of Mumbai as one of the semi-final hosts of the 2016 Twenty20 Cricket World Cup, arrived an unwanted scenario that pertains to Pakistan and the culture of boycott.
On Friday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the schedule for the next year's T20 World Cup in India, to be held from March 8 and April 3.
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The semi-finals of the tournament will be played in Delhi and Mumbai on March 30 and 31 respectively, with the finals in Kolkata on April 3.
To avoid Pakistan, should they qualify for the semis, playing in Mumbai, the organisers have included a provision to swap the venues. Irrespective of Pakistan finishing first or second in their group, their semi-final will be hosted in Delhi to avoid any untoward incident from political proponents.
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Pakistan have been "banned" by the right-wing political party, the Shiv Sena, for many years in Mumbai. Even the all-important meeting between the two cricket boards, BCCI and PCB held in Mumbai was disturbed with protesttors barging the Indian board's office.
After the incident, the ICC withdrew Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar from the two One-Day International matches during the recent Freedom series between India and South Africa.
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Besides, Pakistani commentators Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar were forced to return home early thanks to the threats.
Both the men's and women's national cricket teams from Pakistan will take part in the biennial tournament.
