“The decision has been taken to relocate the India-Pakistan match from Dharamsala to Kolkata for security reasons,” International Cricket Council Chief Executive David Richardson said.

“The bottom line is… security is paramount and it’s a difficult decision, not one that we wanted to make because we wanted to stick with the original plan but one we’ve been forced into,” Richardson told a press conference in New Delhi.

Pakistan had delayed their departure to India which is hosting the World T20 as they awaited security clearance from their country’s government.

Pakistan sent a security assessment team to India on Monday after voicing repeated concerns about arrangements, saying there had been threats from Hindu activists.