Pakistan-India cricket talks rescheduled after Shiv Sena protest
Shiv Sena fanatics cornered BCCI president and protested against PCB chief Shahryar Khan.
MUMBAI (Web Desk) -- The much-awaited talks beetween the PCB and BCCI on the proposed bilateral series have been rescheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) in New Delhi after workers of Shiv Sena, a Hindu extremist group, stormed the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai to protest against PCB chief Shahryar Khan s visit, the Indian media reported.
Shortly before scheduled meeting of Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shahryar Khan and new Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Shashank Manohar, some 50 members of the Shiv Sena Hindu militant outfit stormed the board s headquarters at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.
The extremists carried saffron flags symbolic of Hinduism and black flags to condemn resumption of Indo-Pak cricketing ties, shouting anti-Pakistan slogans.
Shiv Sena fanatics were holding placard bearing slogan “Shaharyar Khan Go Back”and threatened that they would not allow cricket series between Pakistan and India.
Police have detained around 20 protestors and tightened security at the site.
"The talks have not been called off. Mr Manohar and Mr Khan will speak to each other in evening today and tomorrow they are coming to Delhi for another round of talks," IPL Chairman and senior Board functionary Rajiv Shukla told Press Trust of India.
"In no way, the dialogue will be stopped. BCCI has never compromised with national interests," he said.
Condemning the attack on BCCI headquarters in Mumbai by Shiv Sena workers, ICC president Zaheer Abbas said politics should never be mixed with sports.
Abbas, who is also a former Pakistan cricketer, said: "It is not a new thing. It has been happening for long. But being the ICC president, I want cricket to spread all around the world."
"Politics and cricket are two different things. Pakistan is not asking India to play in Pakistan. Pakistan is asking for a bilateral series to be played at a neutral venue," he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive of International Cricket Council (ICC) David Richardson regretted the attack on BCCI office by the Shiv Sena extremists.
Addressing a news conference in Dubai, he said the cricket playing nations should promote mutual cooperation.
PAK-INDIA SERIES
Shaharyar Khan and head of the PCB s executive committee Najam Sethi arrived in India on Sunday in a bid to convince the BCCI for December s planned test and limited-overs series in the United Arab Emirates..
Both sides have signed an agreement to play at least six times from 2015-2023, but the India board needs its government s approval to revive cricketing ties with Pakistan.
Earlier, the PCB chief had also discussed the planned series with BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur on the sidelines of the ICC meeting in Dubai this month.
The last time both teams played a test series was in 2007 when Pakistan toured India. Pakistan last hosted India for a test series in 2006.
SHIV SENA THREATS
Monday s protest is the third incident by Shiv Sena workers where they have protested against any Pakistani national.
First they used threats to force the cancellation of an appearance in Mumbai by Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali and after few days they targeted former foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri s book launch organisation Sudheendra Kulkarni in Mumbai.
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