Ireland set 155-run target for Oman:

DHARAMSALA: Ireland set a competitive target of 155 for Oman in the fourth match of the World Twenty20, first round group A, here at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday night.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Ireland made a good start and their three top-order batsmen took them to 112 in 15 overs but later they failed to maintain the tempo and were restricted to 154 for five.

Openers captain William Porterfield and Paul Stirling scored 29 each while Gary Wilson top-scored with 38.

Oman seamer Munis Ansari captured three wickets for 37.

Ireland picked right-arm quick Craig Young in their three-pronged pace attack, and off-spinner Andy McBrine. They left out left-arm spinner George Dockrell and Andy Balbirnie.

PCB hails ICC decision but seeks Indian Govt assurance:

KARACHI: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PBC) Shaharyar Khan welcomed the decision, announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC), to relocate the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016 Super-10 Group-2 match between India and Pakistan from Dharamsala to Kolkata.

“We welcome the decision for moving the match from Dharamsala to Kolkata. There were pressure on us and there was a public opinion to ask ICC to shift the match from Dharamsala. So, it is a welcome step by ICC and BCCI,” PCB Chief Shaharyar Khan said in a press briefing in Karachi.

However, Shaharyar added both men and women teams´ departure for India has been delayed and the teams will not be sent unless security of players is completely assured.

“The PCB has also today conveyed to ICC and BCCI that our government is expecting an assurance to Pakistan against specific threats to the Pakistan team from various political parties and groups during the tour. Pending this assurance and in accordance with the recommendation by the Security delegation, the PCB has decided to defer the departure of Pakistan men and women teams to India,” he added. 

Earlier, announcing the decision, ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “The decision has been taken following consultation with the BCCI, the relevant state associations, the ICC and BCCI security consultant and other relevant authorities.

“The decision to relocate the match has been made for security reasons. The concerns initially arose following alleged public comments recently reported by the Chief Minister of Hamachal Pradesh, warning of demonstrations and attempts to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the match.

“Our concerns relate both to uncertainty as to the level of those threats, as well as the level of commitment to implement any security plan developed to mitigate such threats.

“The decision was not taken lightly," Richardson said. "The ICC and the BCCI understand the disappointment that is likely to be felt by many over the decision to move the match. But the safety and security of the event is of paramount importance to the ICC and we have taken into consideration the concerns shared with us by our security advisors as well as the Pakistan Cricket Board.

“As far as those who have purchased tickets online for the match, they will be offered the choice of a full refund or the opportunity to exchange their tickets for ones for the Kolkata match.

“Finally, I would like to confirm that the ICC has been assured by all relevant state authorities that all adequate security measures are in place and will be implemented to ensure that the event is staged in a safe and secure environment for all stakeholders.”

Bangladesh record thrilling win over Netherlands:

DHARAMSALA: Bangladesh won their first match in the first round Group A of the World T20 tournament against Netherlands, all due to a combined bowling effort and an earlier responsible batting display from Tamim Iqbal.

Taskin Ahmed bowled a high-quality last over, giving away eight runs when Netherlands required 17 to win, to help Bangladesh start their World T20 campaign with an eight-run win in Dharamsala. The game had swung in nearly every over as neither team could take a hold of the contest.

Mudassar Bukhari and Pieter Seelaar kept Netherlands in the hunt with a 16-run penultimate over, which also included the wicket of Tom Cooper. Bukhari was run-out in the last over, and neither Seelaar nor Logan van Beek could find the boundaries.

Ultimately, Tamim Iqbal's unbeaten 83, as the rest of the Bangladesh batting line-up struggled, Mashrafe Mortaza's boundary-less last three overs and Taskin's accurate last over combined for Bangladesh's win.

The game was in Netherlands' grasp when they needed 54 runs in the last five overs with seven wickets in hand. Captain Peter Borren started off the assault with a one-handed sweep through midwicket for four. Subsequently, he was dropped in the same region by Nasir Hossain before the same fielder caught him at the end of the over.

In the next over, Mortaza, who conceded one four in his spell, was unlucky not to have Cooper's wicket after the ball struck the off stump but the bails didn't budge. Van der Merwe was removed later in the over though, the thin edge carrying to the Mushfiqur Rahim.

Pak-India World T20 venue shifted to Kolkata: ICC:

DELHI: The India-Pakistan World T20 match, scheduled to be played at Dharamsala on March 19 has been moved to Eden Gardens in Kolkata, because of security concerns over the original venue.

The ICC chief executive David Richardson made the announcement in Delhi on Wednesday, ending weeks of uncertainty over the fixture, which began with the Himachal Pradesh chief minister saying his government would not be able to provide adequate security for the match..

"The decision to relocate the match has been made for security reasons," Richardson said. "The concerns initially arose following alleged public comments recently reported by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, warning of demonstration and attempts to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the match.

“Our concerns relate both to uncertainty as to the level of those threats as well as the level of commitment to implement any security plan developed to mitigate such treats.

"The decision was not taken lightly. The ICC and the BCCI understand the disappointment that is likely to be felt by many over the decision to move the match. But the safety and security of the event is of paramount importance to the ICC and we have taken into consideration the concerns shared with us by our security advisors as well as Pakistan Cricket Board.

"As far as those who have purchased tickets online for the match, they will be offered the choice of a full refund or the opportunity to exchange their tickets for ones for the Kolkata match.

"Finally, I would like to confirm that the ICC has been assured by all relevant state authorities that all adequate security measure are in place and will be implemented to ensure that the event is staged in a safe and secure environment for all stakeholders."

Though the PCB had always expressed reservations about playing in Dharamsala once the issue began, the BCCI and the ICC remained confident the game would go ahead as planned.

However, the problems came to a head this week after a three-man security delegation from Pakistan inspected the venue and were unhappy with the preparations. Their report to the PCB on Tuesday recommended that Pakistan not play at the venue, and the ICC announced the change in venue the next day.

Pakistan refuses to participate in T20 WC over security concerns in India  :

ISLAMABAD: Following a crucial meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Pakistan has decided not to participate in World Cup Twenty20 until India assures to provide full security to Pakistani team.

The Interior Ministry has apprised India in written over the decision of Pakistan.

“Pakistan team will not depart to participate in World Cup T20 until high-level Indian officials ensure security for the team,” the ministry said and added that Pakistan wants written security assurance from India.

The decision was taken following a meeting between Nisar Ali Khan and PM Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad today.

Sources privy to the details of the meeting said, the interior minister also presented initial report prepared by the Pakistan security team in India to the Premier.

The two-member Pakistan security delegation comprising senior director of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Lahore, Dr UsmanAnwar and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Security officer, Col. (R) Azam Khan went to Amritsar (India) from Lahore on Monday to assess the situation at Dharamshala ahead of the Pakistan India clash in that town on March 19.

The security team was constituted by the Pakistan government after Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh expressed his state government difficulty to provide security to the Pakistan team which is scheduled to play India on March 19 at Dharamshala.

Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has suggested that Pakistan play the World T20 match in Calcutta instead of Dharamshala in view of their security fears.

PCB Chairman Shahryar Khan has also asked ICC chief executive David Richardson to shift the March 19 encounter to Kolkata or Mohali.