Ignore Shiv Sena threat, Pak board tells players

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has told the Pakistan team to just 'switch off' and not take the apparent security threat posed by the nationalist Shiv Sena party seriously after getting satisfactory feedback about the safety arrangements for Pakistan team during the ongoing Champions Trophy in India.

According to a report in 'The News' quoting Pakistan Cricket Board Director of Operations Salim Altaf, the PCB is happy with the security arrangements in India and is confident that no harm would come to the players.

The Shiv Sena has threatened to disrupt Pakistan's matches and protest the team's participation in the Champions Trophy.

"I have talked to our team manager Talat Ali and he has told me that the security measures taken for the protection of players and officials cannot go wrong," Altaf said.

The report further stated that the players have been given 'Close Protection Officers' and Shiv Sena threats of disrupting matches is no longer a worry.

"All these blokes are professional cricketers and know when to switch off everything else and concentrate on the job given to them," Altaf explained.

"We have been told by the team management that all the players are back to business and have forgotten everything that has happened in the recent past. Their focus has completely shifted on playing good cricket and we expect the team to produce positive results," he added.