Akhilesh Yadav slams Shiv Sena's protest against Indo-Pak cricket

He added that the SP does not approve of incidents preventing sportsmen of other countries to play here

With Shiv Sena throwing a spanner in resumption of bilateral cricketing ties with Pakistan, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today said though Samajwadi Party has never been a supporter of cricket, it does not approve of incidents preventing sportsmen of other countries to play here.

"SP has never been in favour of cricket but it should not happen that you dig the pitch. A debate can be held on another platform but disallowing sportsmen of other countries to play here is not fair," Yadav told reporters.

His comments came against the backdrop of Sena workers storming the Indian Cricket Board headquarters in Mumbai yesterday forcing cancellation of scheduled talks with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shahryar Khan over resumption of India-Pakistan cricketing ties.

Sena, which has threatened to prevent Pakistani cricketers from playing in India, has in the past dug the pitch in Ferozeshah Kotla Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi and in Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.

"Aisi ghatna karne walon ki ninda honi chahiye, jitni ninda ho kam hai," (Those involved in such incidents should be condemned, and whatever extent of condemnation, it is not enough)," Yadav said.

"Who will be responsible if our player go for Commonwealth and other games to other countries and any unpleasant incident happens there? Our society shall have to take decisions with patience and tolerance about what is happening and what message is going out," he said.

Yadav said all the political parties and people should have to understand that "when markets of world have become one, no news, photo, incident and information can be stopped. The world can see it. The scenario was different some years back."

"An attempt should be made to ensure that no adverse message goes out," he added.

In the recent days, Sena activists had blackened the face of former BJP strategist Sudheendra Kulkarni, Chairman of the Observer Research Foundation, over his refusal to cancel the book launch function of former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, prompting strong condemnation from political parties.

The Shiv Sena also forced the organisers to cancel the Mumbai concert of renowned Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali.