Shahid Afridi insists Pakistan are ready despite delayed arrival at World Twenty20

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi insists the team's late arrival for the World Twenty20 has not hampered their preparation for the tournament.

Pakistan had been due to fly out on Wednesday, but their departure was put on hold by the government over security concerns, with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan demanding a public guarantee from the Indian government before giving the side the go-ahead to compete. 

Those assurances were given on Friday and the team will arrive in Kolkata from Lahore on Saturday ahead of their first game against a qualifier before they take on India at Eden Gardens on March 16.

"We were practicing over there," Afridi said after a practice session. "Physically and mentally we were ready, that we will go definitely. Sport always brings two nations together. Can there be anything better than cricket?

"I've not enjoyed playing anywhere as much as I have in India. I am at the last stage of my career and I can say that the love I have got in India is something that I will always remember. We've not got this much love even from Pakistan.

Police commissioner Supratim Sarkar added: "All routes the team is likely to take are being sanitized. Commandos will accompany the team bus and players have been requested not to go outside the team hotel without informing us."

A total of 15,000 policemen will be on duty during the India-Pakistan game.