NEW DELHI — Pakistan’s women cricketers in India for the World Cup are staying in the stadium premises instead of a hotel for security reasons, the International Cricket Council said Tuesday.



The entire squad is living in the club house of the Barabati stadium in the eastern city of Cuttack where Pakistan is due to play its matches in the eight-nation tournament starting Thursday.



“I can confirm the team is staying at the Barabati stadium,” an ICC spokeswoman said from Cuttack.



“The ICC considered all options and the best security for the teams, and we have chosen to use the Barabati stadium club house.”



Cuttack was added as a last-minute venue after the right-wing nationalist Shiv Sena party threatened to disrupt Pakistan’s matches in Mumbai, where the entire tournament was originally scheduled to be played.



But the Pakistani team will still has to travel to Mumbai if it makes the final at the Brabourne Stadium on Feb. 17. — AFP