Kolkata:
The Anti-Terrorist Front of India (ATFI), which has been opposing playing of Pakistan cricket team in India, has threatened to dig up the pitch of Eden Gardens which is slated to host a India-Pakistan match in the World Twenty20.
The ATFI has also written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee against hosting the cricket match.
“Hosting the Pakistanis is an insult to all brave soldiers who were martyred in attacks. We have written to the (West Bengal) Chief Minister urging her not to allow any kind of arrangement including security for the match,” ATFI National President Viresh Shandilya said in a release.
The ATFI has been opposing hosting of the Pakistan team until the terror masterminds behind the Mumbai, Pathankot and the recent Pampore attacks are handed over to India by Pakistan.
Shandilya said the ATFI activists will be launching agitations across Kolkata including the Eden Gardens, the team hotels and the airport from March 14 onwards.
“We are determined to prevent this match from happening and for that we are ready to dig up the Eden (Gardens) pitch. We are also seeking the intervention of the Union Home Ministry so that Pakistan team is not allowed to enter India,” he said.
The organisation had also threatened to dig up the pitch at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium in Dharamsala that was to host the March 19 India-Pakistan match.
Citing security reasons, the International Cricket Council (ICC) recently relocated the India-Pakistan group match to Kolkata.
Delighted at the match being shifted to Kolkata, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday wrote to Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Sourav Ganguly assuring him that her government would provide the required security for the match on March 19.
