BCCI begs the Shiv Sena to let Aussies play IPL

In a shameful turn of events, ICC vice-president and Union Minister Sharad Pawar on Sunday begged Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray to let the Australian cricketers play in the Indian Premier League.

As a result the Sena has agreed to back down and allow the Australians to play in the IPL games in Mumbai; Thackeray also promised that the Sena would not disrupt proceedings during the series. Pawar, along with BCCI President Shashank Manohar went to Thackeray's residence Matoshri and held a meeting with Thackeray for nearly two hours. Pawar told Thackeray that Mararathi players would be affected if the IPL games are canceled or interrupted. This week the BCCI is also supposed to make a presentation to Bal Thackeray to convince him on the issue, the Sena would act accordingly and decide if the Australians should be allowed to play on their home turf in the future.

"We presented our viewpoint before Thackeray on this critical issue," Manohar said. "We tried to convince him that only one or two Australian players will participate in the IPL matches and by not allowing all IPL matches it's the state players (Marathi players) who will lose ultimately. We also explained the format of the IPL teams and matches and how there were one or two Australian players in each team. He agreed to consider the issue in a couple of days."

Uddhav Thackeray was also present during the meeting, and Sena MP Sanjay Raut (who is also Saamna's editor) stated that the final decision regarding the Aussies would be taken by Bal Thackeray. "Two senior leader met today, they discussed issues pertaining to cricket. The final decision will be taken by the Shiv Sena chief." he said. The Shiv Sena had earlier said that IPL organisers should be ashamed for inviting Australians to play here when Indians were being attacked in that country. He had warned that his party would not permit Australian cricketers to play in the city and the state and also rebuked the Indian cricketers for continuing to play with the Australians.