No India-Pakistan Cricket Series in December: Sources

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 20, 2015:  A proposed cricket series between India and Pakistan in December will not be held now, sources in the Indian cricket board have said. The reported decision comes just a day after activists of the Shiv Sena tried to stop talks between Board chief Shashank Manohar and his Pakistani counterpart Shahryar Khan in Mumbai.

   

Sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) say that Pakistan has expressed concern about travelling to India for the World T20 Championship next year.
   
This comes after Sena activists barged into the BCCI office in Mumbai and threatened to prevent Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar from umpiring in the fifth One-Day International (ODI) match between India and South Africa on Sunday.
   
Mr Dar was later withdrawn from officiating in the remaining two matches of the ongoing India-South Africa one-day series.
   
Citing security reasons, former Pakistani cricketers Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar, too, decided against commentating in the fifth one-day match, which will take place in Mumbai. They have decided to return to Pakistan on Friday, a day after the fourth ODI in Chennai.
   
On Monday morning, just before the chiefs of the Indian and Pakistani cricket boards were to discuss a potential bilateral series between the two nations, Shiv Sena activists broke into the office of the BCCI.
   
Waving placards of "Shahryar Khan, Go Back", the activists crashed through the gates of the office in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. They entered Mr Manohar’s cabin and crowded around his desk, shouting slogans and warning him against meeting Mr Khan. At least 10 protesters were arrested, but were granted bail within hours.
   
Sources said Mr Manohar drove to the Trident hotel, where Shahryar Khan is staying, and spoke to him. There will be no official meeting between the two cricket board chiefs till October 25, sources say.
   
The Indian and Pakistani cricket boards had signed a pact for six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023.
   
The Shiv Sena, which rules Maharashtra in alliance with the BJP, says it will not allow any engagement with Pakistan as long as the country is involved in acts of terror.
   
Leaders of the BJP disagreed publicly. "Mumbai should host an India-Pakistan match and if Pakistan cricketers come, the government should protect them," said state BJP chief Raosaheb Danve.

 

Courtesy: NDTV