Indo-Pak cricket meeting cancelled as Shiv Sena storms BCCI HQ

Activists of the hardline Hindu nationalist party Shiv Sena stormed the headquarters of the Indian cricket board in Mumbai on Monday, shortly before Indian cricket officials were scheduled to meet their Pakistani counterparts to discuss reviving cricket ties between the two nations.

According to Indian media reports, between 40 and 50 Shiv Sena activists barged into the BCCI head-office at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, shouting slogans against Pakistan and carrying placards saying "Shahryar Khan waapis jao (Shahryar Khan, Go Back)".

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan and PCB's executive committee Najam Sethi are in India for meetings with BCCI president Shashank Manohar and top Indian cricket officials to confirm whether the India-Pakistan cricket series will take place in December.

According to the reports, the Shiv Sena members barged into the BCCI headquarters and cornered the BCCI president, threatening him and saying they would not allow any cricket ties with Pakistan.

The meeting between the PCB and BCCI officials was postponed after the Shiv Sainiks stormed the BCCI office.

Manohar, Khan meeting cancelled

The meeting between BCCI President Shashank Manohar and PCB Chairman Shahryar Khan has been cancelled, BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur said.

Thakur further said the meeting was scheduled to take place in Mumbai and there was no meeting scheduled in New Delhi.

According to earlier reports Manohar and Khan were to meet in New Delhi today (Monday) at 6:00PM.

ICC expresses disappointment over attack on BCCI office

At a press conference in Dubai later today, the International Cricket Council (ICC) expressed disappointment over the attack on the BCCI office by Shiva Sena activists.

"Mutual cooperation should be promoted between cricketing nations," ICC Chief Executive David Richardson was quoted as saying at the press conference.

Last week, Shiv sena activists attacked Sudheendra Kulkarni, the organiser of a book launch in Mumbai for former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri, saying any engagement with Pakistan is unacceptable.

Earlier this month, threats from the extreme right-wing group led to organisers cancelling legendary Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali's show in Mumbai despite the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assuring that the event would not be stopped.

Shiv Sena co-governs the Indian state of Maharashtra with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP.