Sena slams Pawar for favouring Indo-Pak matches in India

Mumbai, July 04: The Shiv Sena has slammed Union Agriculture Minister and newly elected International Cricket Council (ICC) chief Sharad Pawar for favouring cricket matches with Pakistan on Indian soil.

The Sena, in an editorial comment in its mouthpiece ‘Saamna’ on Saturday, said though it had no option but congratulate Pawar for being the second Indian and the first Maharashtrian to head the ICC, it would oppose any move to invite Pakistani cricketers to play in India.

“Until Pakistanis stop the bloodbath on Indian soil, they should not touch Indian soil,” the Sena stated. “It is sin even to think of playing cricket with Pakistan…While the Marathi flag is fluttering on ICC, Pawar should refrain from his mean attempt to hoist a green rag.” The Sena was referring to Pawar’s comment after becoming ICC chief that the visit of the Indian Home Minister to Pakistan was a good sign for improving Indo-Pak relations and subject to approval of governments of both countries, the ICC would revive Indo-Pak cricket matches.

The Sena editorial also raised suspicions that Pawar being made the ICC chief could be an “international conspiracy” to keep him busy with cricket so that agricultural issues in India are ignored. Expressing concern over Pawar becoming too busy with his new post, the Sena, in its trademark style, asked whether he would quit as Union Agriculture Minister or shift the office of international cricket to Krishi Bhavan in Delhi.

——–Agencies