Sena keeps IPL doors closed for Pak

BCCI has got the government's nod for a series with Pakistan in December, but the participation of Pakistani players in next year's IPL still looks unlikely.

This, BCCI sources said, is because two IPL teams — Mumbai and Pune — are based in Maharashtra, where the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have opposed cricketing contact with Pakistan. Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Monday repeated his call to "staunch Hindus and the patriotic public" to not allow Indo-Pak cricket matches in India.

A BCCI panel comprising Rajeev Shukla, Ratnakar Shetty and IPL CEO Sundar Raman met home ministry officials recently to finalise the itinerary for the ODI and T20 series against Pakistan. A key point of discussion was ensuring that matches were staged at venues less prone to disruptions from the Sena.

The IPL governing council meets on November 21, when a final decision on whether to include Pakistanis in the IPL auction list could be taken.

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