Shiv Sena playing politics in cricket, BCCI kicks them hard

New Delhi: The Indian Cricket Board on Monday reacted angrily to Bal Thackeray's criticism of Sachin Tendulkar for his 'Mumbai is for all' comment, saying the Shiv Sena chief should be brought to book as his verbal attack on the batting maestro was uncalled for.

In an interaction with the media on completing 20 years in international cricket, Tendulkar had said, "I am a Maharashtrian and I am extremely proud of that. But I am an Indian first. And Mumbai belongs to all Indians."

Thackeray criticised the statement saying, "There was no need to take a cheeky single by making these remarks. By making these remarks, you have got run-out from the ‘pitch’ of Marathi psyche."

"You were not even born when the 'Marathi Manoos' got Mumbai and 105 Marathi people sacrificed their lives to get Mumbai," Sena mouthpiece Samana quoted Thackeray as saying.

The BCCI reacted sharply to Thackeray's statement with its Finance Committee Chairman and Spokesperson Rajiv Shukla saying that the Shiv Sena chief was making baseless statement.

"These kind of comments are completely uncalled for. Shiv Sena people have no business to talk like this. Tendulkar is a nationalist. He is for Maharashtra, he is for India. If somebody calls himself an Indian, is it a crime?" he fumed.

Mumbai: Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Monday came out in strong defence of Sachin Tendulkar, whose "Mumbai for all" remark drew criticism from Shiv Sena, saying the master blaster had spoken from his heart and that his statement will unite the country.

Taking exception to the article by Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray in his party mouthpiece Saamana criticising Tendulkar, the Chief Minister said, "the master blaster has spoken from the bottom of his heart."

"Sachin's statement has been made in true sportsman spirit. Though, he is a Maharashtrian, he plays for the country. This (Tendulkar's remark) will unite the entire country," Chavan said.

"I fully agree with him (Sachin). People will not support Shiv Sena's political game," he said.

Chavan said the entire country was proud of Tendulkar's achievement of completing 20 years in international cricket. "Sachin has done India proud," he said.

"I do not attach any importance to what some people have said about Tendulkar," the Chief Minister said without naming the Shiv Sena chief.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena Spokesman Sanjay Raut on Monday said his party chief had not criticised Tendulkar for his "Mumbai for all Indians" comment.

"The remark made in today's issue of Saamana is not criticism of Sachin. Balasaheb commented in his capacity as an elder... it was an elderly advice to Sachin," Raut said.

The mouthpiece quoted the Shiv Sena chief as saying, "There was no need for you to take a cheeky single by making these remarks. By doing so, you have got a run-out from the 'pitch' of Marathi pschye.”

Thackeray also expressed displeasure that Sachin had "left the crease" and moved to the pitch of politics by making these remarks which had hurt the Marathi mind.