(Image source from: Shiv Sena protests lead to re-scheduling of BCCI-PCB meeting to Tuesday})

BCCI was forced by Shiv Sena activists to cancel the talks between Shashank Manohar, Board President, and its Pakistan counterpart Shahryar Khan on the proposed bilateral series between India and Pakistan in December. The protests by Sena resulted in postponement of talks to Tuesday.

Meetings was initially scheduled to take place today in Mmumbai, but was cancelled as hundreds of Shiv Sainiks protested and stormed at the headquarters of BCCI and gheraoed Shashank Manohar in his office.

Rajiv Shukla, senior board functionary and IPL chairman, said, "The talks have not been called off. Shashank Manohar and Shahryar Khan will speak to each other in evening today and tomorrow they are coming to Delhi for another round of talks.”

"In no way, the dialogue will be stopped. BCCI has never compromised with national interests," Shukla said.

Shukla and Anurag Thakur, BCCI secretary, are also expected to be in tomorrow’s meeting. And it is expected that PCB chairman would meet top government officials.

Shahryar Khan was invited by Manohar for talks on the much-anticipated series. After discussing with Anurag Thakur, BCCI secretary, about the planned series on the sidelines of the ICC meeting in Dubai, Khan and Najam Sethi, head of PCB executive committee, are in Mumbai for the meeting. It was assured by Thakur about the final decision likely to be taken later in October besides conveying Manohar's invitation to visit India.

A guess is that India could play either a bilateral series in UAE or a triangular series, involving Bangladesh. The Shiv Sena workers asked Manohar not to have any ties with Pak Cricket board and shouted slogans against Pakistan as well as the PCB chairman.

- Sumana