Shiv Sena protestors threaten umpire Aleem Dar to quit India South Africa series

Aleem Dar from Pakistan is set to officiate in the final India-South Africa ODI clash in Mumbai

Shiv Sena has threatened Pakistani cricket umpire Aleem Dar today to quit the current series between India and South Africa, shortly after storming Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Mumbai office to protest against a planned meeting with Pakistan cricket officials.

The protest was carried out ahead of the meeting of BCCI chief Shashank Manohar and his Pakistani counterpart Shahryar Khan.

Dar is scheduled to officiate in the fifth ODI of the tournament to be held in Mumbai and is part of the ongoing Indian home series against South Africa. Shiv Sena issued the threat to him after vandalising the Mumbai office. Earlier today, around three dozen supporters of the Shiv Sena barged into the headquarters of the BCCI and created a ruckus by shouted anti-Pakistan slogans at Manohar.

The protesters demanded that the BCCI chief cancel talks with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, that were planned to take place in Mumbai today. The talks were later rescheduled for Tuesday.

Pakistan are due to host India for a full tour in the United Arab Emirates in December - one of six series the neighbours agreed to play between 2015 and 2023 under an agreement signed last year that is still pending India’s clearance.

Today’s protest came a week after Shiv Sena activists threw ink over the organiser of a book launch in Mumbai by a former Pakistani foreign minister. Shiva Sena earlier this month used threats to force the cancellation of an appearance in the city by revered Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali.

The Shiv Sena, a partner in a ruling coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Maharashtra, opposes any dealings with Pakistan citing the 2008 terror attacks which India blamed on militants from across the border.

International Cricket Council (ICC) president and former Pakistan cricketer Zaheer Abbas reacted to Monday’s incident saying that politics and cricket are two different things. Pakistan is not asking India to play in Pakistan.They are only asking for a bilateral series to be played at a neutral venue.

Manohar had invited Khan for talks on the much anticipated series scheduled in December. Khan and PCB’s executive committee head Najam Sethi were in the city for the meeting after discussing the planned series with BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur earlier on the sidelines of the ICC meeting in Dubai.