Pakistan will not play in Mumbai, says Thackeray

MUMBAI, OCT 28: Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray has fired another salvo. This time at cricket.

“Pakistan will not be allowed to play in Mumbai,” he thundered, while speaking at a chat show at the Shivaji Park that involved former India captain and selection committee chairman Ajit Wadekar, Test umpire Madhav Ghotaskar and Marathi cricket columnist Dwarkanath Sanzgiri. Thackeray pointed to the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir fueled by Pakistani militants to underline his statement.

For one who relishes igniting patriotic frevour, his latest threat would in all probability throw a spanner in the BCCI and PCB’s efforts of holding a Test series in India early next year. It would, in fact, mean no matches for Mumbai if the two boards decided to go ahead with the series.

The event, which was a prelude to the state level under-14 cricket tournament being staged by the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna, was Thackeray’s first appearance on a sports podium.