Shiv Sena plays 'vengeance' card, reiterates anti Indo-Pak series stand

The Shiv Sena on Friday issued a stern warning, saying it would not allow the India-Pakistan bilateral cricket series to be played in India at any cost.

"We won't let the match happen in India at any cost. It won't happen anyway from the fear of the Shiv Sena. We have been maintaining this stand since day one and are firm on it," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told ANI.

However, he said that the Shiv Sena had no power to stop the series from being played in Sri Lanka and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take the 'appropriate' action.

"We are appealing to the Prime Minister to take make a decision in this matter keeping the feelings of the entire nation in mind," Raut added.

The Shiv Sena has been vehemently opposing the bilateral series between the two nations and fearing retribution, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been trying to shift the venue to Sri Lanka.

The Shiv Sainiks had earlier disrupted a meeting between BCCI and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials in Mumbai and they have claimed that a series with Pakistan would be like honouring terrorist Ajmal Kasab, the gunman in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The BCCI had sought the government's permission for a short ODI and T20 series against Pakistan in Sri Lanka sometime after December 15.

India has not played a full bilateral Test series with Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

According to a memorandum of understanding signed between the PCB and BCCI, both countries are scheduled to play six series between 2015 and 2023 after a clearance from the Indian Government.