'We send our team only when...': BCCI on India travelling to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025

Ahead of the start of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, co-hosts West Indies have received a terror threat, which the agencies have traced, have come from North Pakistan. Noting the same, concerns have become prevalent regarding the safety of Team India and many of the fans on social media have raised doubts on whether India should even travel to West Indies. Vice President of BCCI, Rajeev Shukla, addressed the issue and laid out the possible course of action.

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Rajeev Shukla addresses terror threat to ICC T20 World Cup 2024 

Upon addressing the concerns, Rajeev Shukla stated that BCCI will have a word with agencies who have the responsibility of overseeing the World Cup, plus, will involve the central government and will follow its directive. 

"We will talk to the agencies responsible for carrying out WC. We will go according to the decision taken by the central govt. We are in touch with WI and US govts."

"In the case of the Champion Trophy, we will do whatever the Government of India will tell us to do. We send our team only when the Government of India gives us permission. So we will go according to the decision of the Indian government."

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Terror gloom looms over ICC T20 World Cup 2024

The T20 World Cup in the Americas has received a terror threat, Trinidad's Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has revealed even as the ICC asserted that a "comprehensive and robust security plan" is in place to "mitigate any risks" to the showpiece beginning June 1. The tournament -- featuring 20 teams, including India -- is scattered across nine venues, six of them in the West Indies. As of now, the threat, according to media reports, is specific to the West Indies, which aside from some preliminary matches, will be hosting the entire Super 8 stage along with the semifinals and the final on June 29.

"Unfortunately, the threat of terrorism in its many and varied expressions is an ever-present danger in the world of the 21st century," Rowley was quoted as saying by 'Trinidad Daily Express' here.

Rowley did not name any organisation but reports here stated that the Islamic State made the threat through its propaganda channel. The ICC responded to the development with a statement assuring preparedness.

"Safety and security of everyone at the event is our number one priority and we have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place," a spokesperson of the global body said in a statement issued to PTI. "We work closely with authorities in our host countries and continually monitor and evaluate the global landscape to ensure appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any risks identified to our event." Rowley said "extra effort in national security preparations and response readiness" will be put in to neutralise the danger.

"Given the fact that bad actors can choose to misbehave in any way possible, it makes it virtually impossible to completely seal off all opportunities," he said. "However, in order to ameliorate these dangers, we at the local and regional levels have remained alert to many threats and singularly or together have our intelligence and other security agencies working to protect the population in countries and at venues throughout the tournament," he added.

The World Cup matches in the West Indies will be held in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago. The US leg will feature games in Florida, New York and Texas. New York will host the marquee India-Pakistan clash on June 9.

Cricket West Indies said everything is being done to ensure foolproof security at the mega-event.

"We work closely with authorities in the host countries and cities, and continually monitor and evaluate the global landscape to ensure appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any risks identified to our event," CWI CEO Jonny Graves told 'Cricbuzz'.

"We want to assure all stakeholders that the safety and security of everyone at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup is our number one priority and we have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place," he added. 

(With inputs from PTI)