A petition has been filed in a Karachi court seeking that the India-Pakistan World Cup semi-final match be shifted out of India to a third country as it is feared for the safety of the team if Pakistan defeats India.
Advocate Abid Hassan, in his petition at the Sindh High Court in Karachi, also claimed that Indian politician and Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray has threatened to attack the Pakistani players if they win, Geo News reported Sunday.
Hassan said he feared that if Pakistan defeated India, it could trigger riots.
However, a spokesperson of the Shiv Sena denied that Thackeray has issued such a threat and termed it "baseless".
Hassan urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) to change the venue of Wednesday's match from Mohali, in India's Punjab state, to Sri Lanka or Dubai.
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has accepted an invitation from his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh to watch the semi-final March 30.
Gilani will "informally" meet Manmohan Singh during the match and a formal meeting will be held after the match in which bilateral matters will be discussed, official sources said.
{{/usCountry}}Gilani will "informally" meet Manmohan Singh during the match and a formal meeting will be held after the match in which bilateral matters will be discussed, official sources said.
{{/usCountry}}Officials of Pakistan's sports ministry and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will also attend the match.