Bal Thackery slams BCCI for Pakistan U-turn - Cricket News Update
Bal Thackery, the Shiv Sena chief, has come hard on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and slammed their decision while calling the Board to be ‘publicly whipped’ for resuming bilateral cricketing ties with arch rivals Pakistan.
"The whole country is against Pakistan. BCCI should be whipped before the Taj Hotel and CST (venues of the 26/11 terror attacks)", Bal Thackeray wrote in an editorial in Saamana, a party mouthpiece.
Earlier this week, the Indian Board has announced its decision and invited Pakistan to play a short limited-over series that will feature three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and two T20Is.
The development was widely appreciated in the cricketing world with fans and former greats from both neighbouring countries terming it a positive step in the right direction.
However, there was criticism from some political circles in India, calling the decision as treacherous. Shiv Sena is a right wing nationalist party and is well-known for its anti-Pakistan views.
“Having peace talks with Pakistan which is behind the blasts in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 is a farce. Playing cricket with them is treason. BCCI was after money and willing to trade the country's security for money,” the Sena chief alleged.
The right wing party has a history of inviting politics into cricket and this is not the first time the party has taken such a stance.
In 1991, the Sena members destroyed Wankhede Stadium pitch in Mumbai and later 1999 vandalized the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium pitch in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Delhi-c780 just before Pakistan was due to play there.
The party also attacked Indian film star and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) owner Shahrukh http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 players in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Thackeray lauded former Indian great, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 terror victims. "He has given voice to the sentiments of the people", the Sena chief said.
The right wing party chief also urged his countrymen to boycott the series and send a strong message to the BCCI high ups to respect the Indian sentiments before playing cricket.
"The empty stadiums during these matches will be the true homage to 26/11 victims and martyrs", Bal Thackeray said.
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