Far-Right Hindu Nationalists Protest Disrupts India, Pakistan Cricket Board Talks

A meeting between India and Pakistan's cricket board chiefs in Mumbai has been "cancelled after a protest by far-right Hindu nationalists," according to Justin Rowlatt of the BBC. Dozens of Shiv Sena party activists "broke into the office of the cricket board just before Monday's talks." Shiv Sena blames Pakistan "for militant attacks in India and is opposed to any engagement with it." Shiv Sena activists or Shiv Sainiks broke into the office of the Board of Control for Cricket in India in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, where BCCI CEO Shashank Manohar was "scheduled to meet his Pakistani counterpart Shahryar Khan" to discuss India's participation in Pakistan's home series in December. Police said that "a number of protesters had been detained." India and Pakistan last played a Test series when Pakistan toured India in '07, "although they did meet in a bilateral limited-overs series" in '12-13. Because of security fears in Pakistan, the country is "due to host India's December tour in the United Arab Emirates" (BBC, 10/19).