ICC stops Dar from officiating India vs South Africa — Security fears

Shiv Sena has threatened Dar to stop him from officiating the fifth ODI between India and South Africa to be played in Mumbai.

Dar was due to stand in the fifth one-day worldwide between MS Dhoni’s men and the Proteas in Chennai after umpiring the first match of the series.

“Under the current circumstances, will probably be unreasonable to anticipate from Aleem that he’ll have the ability to carry out his duties to the most effective of his talents”, the ICC stated in a press release. Why should the Sena only protest against the Pakistanis, there are other nationalists too in the country. “We are looking into it. Those detained will be booked as per law”, said a police officer. But, as the talks could not be held, they are being flown back to Pakistan.

A meeting between Pakistan and India’s cricket boards officials was also cancelled following the incident.

The attack by members of the Shiv Sena party, focussed on India-Pakistan relations, comes in the wake of security fears in neighbouring Bangladesh that forced Australia to postpone its planned two-Test tour to the country this month. “There was a possibility of a protest in Saurashtra as well. 80,000 people have died in Kashmir, putting ink on one Engineer Rashid will not change anything”. “What is the threat and what is the perception, I can’t get into it”, Thakur said. “The fact is that India will also host the T20 World Cup in 2016 and it is the responsibility of every Indian to keep our image of sportmanship alive”, Thakur said. Earlier, the series between Pakistan and India was called off by BCCI, after which rumours emerged about Pakistan’s players not participating in any ICC match that featured Indian team.