Modi Downplays Sena Threat to Australian Cricketers
Downplaying the threat by the Shiv Sena towards Australian cricketers, IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi has said that needed precautions are being taken, reported ANI.
While writing in an editorial in his party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ on January 13, Sena supremo Bal Thackeray called for a ban of the Australian cricket team players in Maharasthra.
Thackeray’s comments came amid unending violence against Indians in Australia.
“There are obvious threats from last so many years, by many people, you can continue to write about threats, I mean that’s it. We have to take precautions that we need to take and we are taking precautions that we need to take,” Modi was quoted as saying.
The organizers also moved the venue of the opening match of the event from Hyderabad to Mumbai keeping in mind the ongoing protests over creation of separate Telangana state, said report.
“We would of course without doubt like to have matches in Andhra. But that does not mean we would not have a back-up plan, we will keep a back-up for every eventuality, for every city. We will not like to move the schedule, if we can help not to move the schedule,” Modi was quoted as saying.
It may be mentioned that a number of Australian players including captain Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds, Mathew Hayden and Michael Hussey are due to play in this year’s IPL.
