BCCI-PCB talks rescheduled after Shiv Sainiks storm board office

BCCI president Shashank Manohar was cornered by Shiv Sainiks to protest against the talks with the Pakistan cricket board in Mumbai

The much-anticipated talks between BCCI President Shashank Manohar and his Pakistan counterpart Shahryar Khan on the proposed bilateral series have been rescheduled here for tomorrow after protests by Shiv Sena activists forced the Board to cancel the meet in Mumbai today.

The meeting was to take place in Mumbai today but was cancelled in view of the protest at the BCCI headquarters during which hundreds of Shiv Sainiks stormed the Board office and gheraoed President Shashank Manohar in his office.

"The talks have not been called off. Mr Manohar and Mr Khan will speak to each other in evening today and tomorrow they are coming to Delhi for another round of talks," IPL Chairman and senior Board functionary Rajiv Shukla told PTI.

"In no way, the dialogue will be stopped. BCCI has never compromised with national interests," he said.

In tomorrow's meeting, Shukla and BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur will also be present. The PCB chairman is also expected to meet top government officials.

Manohar had invited Khan for talks on the much-awaited series scheduled in December.

Khan and PCB's executive committee head Najam Sethi are 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.

Thakur had assured him a final decision could be taken later this month and conveyed Manohar's invitation to visit India.

There is speculation that the two neighbours could play either a bilateral series in the UAE or agree to a possible triangular series in December also involving Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut was quoted as saying by news agency ANI, "It was not a protest, Shiv Sainiks entered, spoke with Shashank Manohar, raised slogans, tried to stop the talks with Pakistan."