IPL chairman Shukla condemns attack on BCCI office

Mumbai, Oct 19: Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Rajeev Shukla on Monday strongly condemned the attack on the headquarters of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at the Wankhede Stadium here by a group of Shiv Sainiks.

The protest was staged at BCCI president Shashank Manohar's office here against his move to hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shahryar Khan on the resumption of cricketing ties between the two countries.

The Shiv Sainiks, numbering over 70, carried a black flag and shouted slogans of 'Pakistan murdabad' and 'Shashank Manohar murdabad'.

"Strongly condemn the attack on BCCI Office by Shiv Sena," Shukla wrote on his Twitter account after the attack.

"Cricket is a gentleman's man and the spirit of the game expects same generosity and tolerance from those who love the game. BCCI is a responsible body and will not do anything against national interest. Cricketing decisions should be left to BCCI," the IPL chairman added.

Later, the police detained more than two dozen Shiv Sena activists and whisked them away, even as Manohar quietly watched from his office.

A protester said that the Shiv Sena would not permit any cricketing relations between the two countries until Pakistan stopped the killing of Indian soldiers and civilians on the border.