'Shiv Sena to decide if Pakistan can play final in Mumbai'

Shive Sena leader says party chief will decide if the Pakistan team can play in Mumbai if they make the final.


Express February 17, 2011

The right-wing Shiv Sena on Thursday declared that party chief Bal Thackeray will decide if Pakistan can play in Mumbai if the team makes it to the final of World Cup 2011.

According to a report published in The Hindu, party leader Manohar Joshi has said that the Shiv Sena chief will make the final decision of allowing the Pakistani team to play in Mumbai.
“You all know Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s views. If the Pakistan team reaches the final (scheduled in Mumbai), whether to allow them to play, the Sena chief will decide”

The statement comes after Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi had said that a Pakistan-India World Cup final would be ideal.

“We’re going through a very tough situation,” said Afridi. “But I’m very happy because we’re trying to rebuild the team and keep the morale high.

“We all know how important the World Cup is for our country. The message for other teams is that no one should underestimate us.”

The final is scheduled to be held on April 2 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The stadium is also the site of the 1991 pitch defacement by Shiv Sena activists in protest of a proposed one-day series between India and Pakistan.

COMMENTS (154)

munnabhai | 12 years ago | Reply The dream run of "Islamabad Express" came to an end & Indian team stopped it in its tracks at Mohali. Captain Afridi endeared himself to all Indian viewers by his post-match magnanimity in praising & congratulating Indian team from the depth of his heart & conveying his sincere apologies to viewers back home. So in the end, Balasaheb Thackeray was spared from taking a difficult decision. He is a patriot & his objection has always been because of 1993 & 2008 attacks on his city. So this thread can be stopped here! Hope India wins the cup. But isn't it great that 3 out of 4 semi-finalists were from Indian Sub-Continent? Jai Ho! his
Asad | 12 years ago | Reply Shev Sena is party of mad people, they are creating bad image of india in the world, we hate shev sena.
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ