"If the Pakistan team comes to Dharamshala to play against Indian cricket team, we will dig out the pitch in HPCA stadium," Shandilya said. Shandilya claimed that he had written letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh in this regard. He added that he will also meet state chief minister Virbhadra Singh and leader of opposition PK Dhumal. "We will protest against this match in Dharamshala in a big way in the coming days" said Shandilya.
Indian hard-liners have a history of digging up pitches. In 1999 when Pakistan was touring India after a gap of 12 years, Shiv Sena activists dug up the pitch at the Feroshah Kotla stadium. Former skipper Wasim Akram stressed that the Pakistan team should only go to India if complete security is provided.