Shiv Sena episode: Imran Tahir advised to stay indoors

E-Paper | April 28, 2026

Pakistan-born South African cricketer Imran Tahir has been confined to his team hotel in Mumbai, Wisden India reported.

Tahir’s Pakistan connection has reportedly forced the South African team management to avoid taking any risks as atmosphere in Indian state of Maharashtra remains unsafe for Pakistani nationals.

“There were instructions from the team management that Tahir should not leave the team hotel at any point of time when in Mumbai.

“Since Tahir is born in Pakistan, the team management took extra security precaution. It was only to avoid any untoward incident,” a source close to the South African team said on Saturday.

Mumbai has traditionally been a stronghold of Shiv Sena and the party has in the past, too, protested against the participation of Pakistani players.

The move reportedly comes after the Oct 19 Mumbai fiasco when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan was due to meet the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief Shashank Manohar.

Manohar had invited Shaharyar to discuss the prospect of a bilateral series between the two countries. But as soon as Shaharyar reached the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, some workers of Sena stormed into the building protesting the PCB chief’s visit and shouting anti-Pakistan slogans.

Following the episode, Shiv Sena also threatened to stop Pakistan’s Aleem Dar from officiating in the fifth ODI between India and South Africa in Mumbai, which forced the International Cricket Council (ICC) to withdraw him from the match.

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Justice

Nov 02, 2015 03:26pm

Real picture of India, shown to the world.

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A Proud Pakistani (Kashmiri)

Nov 02, 2015 03:27pm

Shiv Sena Zindabad!!! - From BCCI!

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Sar

Nov 02, 2015 03:29pm

Extremists all over the world! Go work and do something constructive for your family, country and the world.

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Owais

Nov 02, 2015 03:32pm

ICC will continue to stay silent as money is more important that the game !

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Pakistani

Nov 02, 2015 03:33pm

Heights of extreme. If something happens to Imran tihar south Africa will never tour india ever again.

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Umar

Nov 02, 2015 03:33pm

Now this is getting really embarrassing for India. They ought to take some action otherwise cricketers may stop playing cricket in India.

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SOS

Nov 02, 2015 03:34pm

How can a country of 1.5 Billion plus democracy cave into a handful of stone age mindset?

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Amir

Nov 02, 2015 03:44pm

If I would have been in his place then I would have gone out in their heartland and see how courages they are to come near. Enough of this RSS joke.

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Ghalib

Nov 02, 2015 03:48pm

Speechless

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Syed Ahmad

Nov 02, 2015 03:50pm

Shiv Sena Republic of India. Congratulations to all Indians!

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Nov 02, 2015 03:54pm

True face of so called secular India being exposed everyday. Please keep sports away from politics.

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lafanga

Nov 02, 2015 04:00pm

Now that we see the true face of India, will ICC grow a pair and do something about it? Most likely nothing. It's not just Imran Tahir, England has Owais Shah, Moeen Ali and Adil Rasheed with Pakistani roots, Australia has Usman Khawaja and Fawad Ahmed. Will all these players be "confined" to the hotel rooms now when in India?

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Alam

Nov 02, 2015 04:02pm

Shameful for all Indian nationals around the world. This organization needs to be banned and boycotted locally and internationally.

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usman

Nov 02, 2015 04:21pm

If Imran Tahir is unsafe then anyone is unsafe, south africa should cancel the tour and return, its a security failure of india

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Indianiser

Nov 02, 2015 04:26pm

what a shame

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Mohammed

Nov 02, 2015 04:30pm

international teams and players should NOT tour India because of security fears just like Pakistan and lets see what happens, ICC should be held accountable in my opinion if players are not safe the countries should not allowed into India.

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A. Ali

Nov 02, 2015 04:45pm

Indians never cease to amaze...... they even defended lynching of a meat eating Muslim. this is peanuts for them to defend. this is a non issue in India. BJP silence is based on: action speaks louder than word and the World is listening and watching and observing. why we agitate or think otherwise, its inevitable ... whenever small brains are sitting as leaders it will happen. these are modern day examples why Hindus could never rule anywhere in the world or even in their home town sub-continental land though. in stone age history hindus were doing same to their minorities so much so either those fellas quit the land or got converted. but their rule was always short lived and mostly out of 5000 years of history they were Ruled by others rather they could lead. since narrow mind, caste system, satti, veg obsession, banning beef, etc was their hallmark. and it will keep on happening as hindus are not there to lead they are good to be led. modi is near ejection from office.

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atif

Nov 02, 2015 05:00pm

@lafanga - Brother I somewhat agree with you point but its not the real face of India. Its a small bunch of people bringing bad name to India and we have the same here in Pakistan... Normal people are different and love their country and guests on both sides...the difference now is that its becoming eye opening for a lot of Indians who thought that extremism is only in Pakistan.

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M. Siddique

Nov 02, 2015 05:21pm

Time to cut India out for foreign teams itinerary. Either India control Shev Sena or lose other team visits.

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PHILOSOPHER (from Japan)

Nov 02, 2015 05:25pm

I think banning Aleem Dar or putting their own Umpires are not enough for India's victory. Lets ban Imran Tahir for playing against India, then they might WIN a match against the giant South Africans.

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Karim US

Nov 02, 2015 05:47pm

South Africa should just protest and pack their bags and go back!!!!!

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Taimoor Khan

Nov 02, 2015 05:48pm

@SOS Well, the 1.5 billions by vote of majority got these goons in power. It is clear that hate and support of extremist run deep in India.

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Koki Singh

Nov 02, 2015 06:13pm

Thank you Modi !!!!!!!!

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wasim

Nov 02, 2015 06:25pm

That is not a sportsman spirit ,this very sorry affairs of the state,Indian Government totally collapse in this regard.This is very serious and matter of great concern in this way,all cricketing nation come forward and harp the music and deny to play any format of cricket with India. Wasim Kamran Sheikhupura

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Cyrus

Nov 02, 2015 07:02pm

Pathetic in one word .

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lafanga

Nov 02, 2015 07:08pm

@atif "Brother I somewhat agree with you point but its not the real face of India" I would like to think it's not but the facts speak otherwise. Has the GOI condemned the attack by Shiv Sena on BCCI office? NO. Has BCCI condemned the attack? NO. Has Indian media as a whole condemned the attack? NO. Has any well known Indian cricketer like Tendulkar or Dravid condemned the attack? NO. So brother with all due respect, what else do you want people to think?

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GREEN JAGUAR

Nov 02, 2015 07:12pm

What a colossal irony that Tahir who thought he would be safe and sound in a former war ravaged nation like South Africa, and leaving Pakistan behind - only to be caged like a prisoner under house arrest in Mumbai, India. Tahir, Tahir - you should have never stepped foot in Modi's India where your life is in danger every minute! Please leave ASAP and never play in this nation of extremist Hindus again! Pakistanis wish only the best for you, whereas Hindu extremists with otherwise. So now what's the ultra militant like Shiv Sena and other such extremist in India going to do next? Threaten and kill all Indians born in Pakistan?? Like Sharukh Khan, Dilip Kumar, and many Hindus like the Kapoors???

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Lost cause

Nov 02, 2015 07:13pm

He will still play in Mumbai.

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Sangun

Nov 02, 2015 07:30pm

@Lost cause money attracts them to India...there's nothing bigger than money for many ;)

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Dinesh

Nov 02, 2015 07:51pm

What nonsense! Did Imran Tahir need to stay indoors when he was playing for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL?

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A common pakistani

Nov 02, 2015 07:53pm

well let's just declare it as, "India is not a secular country any longer and it never was". Reality check is needed

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Aad Manash

Nov 02, 2015 08:03pm

SouthAfrica should not tolerate apartheid and leave immediately or have they forgotton their recet past

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syed wasim haider

Nov 02, 2015 08:31pm

Please do not bring bad image of India. Most of the Indians are not like that. Intolerance will lead u no where whether it is politics or sports.

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Nov 02, 2015 08:35pm

True picture of India at it's full glory and still total silence from ICC. After all this it is high time that ICC should issue a statement to explain its stance regarding this. ICC should change the venue of upcoming T20 World Cup so that all teams can participate with complete peace of mind.

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Rafiq Tarar

Nov 02, 2015 08:35pm

IS PM Modi running India or Shiv Sena, If he is not appalled by this challenge to writ of the state than it has to be done with his (party's) blessing.

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Nov 02, 2015 08:37pm

@syed wasim haider What ever SS is doing is fully supported by Modi government. Being a fully democratic country, this clearly shows that majority of Indians agree with the actions of SS.

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Talha

Nov 02, 2015 08:40pm

@Owais ICC is spineless and shameless.

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Hasan Rabani

Nov 02, 2015 08:43pm

Let's not make it as such that these Lunatics (shive S) are representing the whole of India, they are NOT. Most of the Indians just like most of the Pakistani's would like two teams to play. Precautionary measures have to be taken by the Indian government in order to avoid any incident which could potentially put them in the same situation as Pakistan now a days. Consider if Taliban would have acted along the same lines as the Shiv S and if so, Pakistan Gov would have acted in the same manner. India and Pakistan should play, but under the circumstances it is better if they don't. Having said all of the above, India must consider playing in UAE and there should not be no excuse here. Since they are not(if this is the case) then it is the indian GOV that is at fault.

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Amir Shah

Nov 02, 2015 09:04pm

Not a word from ICC or any other human right activists about such terrorist behaviour. Money speaks louder than any thing as far as Indian cricket is concerned, shame on you world leaders for not condemning behaviour of Indian terrorist organisation , double standards yet again. Shame on South Africa for advising Tahir yo hide in his room instead of standing their guard and asking for full protection by Indian government/ICB.

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Who am I

Nov 02, 2015 09:08pm

It is lot safer to be in Pakistan for BCCI to discuss about the India-Pakistan cricket series. Pakistan will even offer safer environment for the Indians to play on our grounds. We have always welcomed Indians in Pakistan. Come play with us and you Indians will go back with a pleasant memory.

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Nov 02, 2015 10:24pm

India and Pakistan must not give in to the pressure of the fanatics on both sides of the border.

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Guest65

Nov 02, 2015 10:26pm

This is Apartheid in action , Why bother your fellow player Why not threaten BCCI that any form of hint of problem with our players , we are packing our bags anf going home . Why not take this stand unless your team management consider him a lesser south African hence put restriction on him rather than urging your hosts to behave and respect our players as south Africans

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anony

Nov 02, 2015 11:08pm

Its funny how Shiv Sena is controlling the WHOLE india. If not, where are the vocals against these terrorist Shiv Sena people.

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ashamed

Nov 02, 2015 11:39pm

The ICC got blackmailed in dropping Aleem Dar from officiating in a match? They should have cancelled the Series instead of being blackmailed by any organization. Shame.

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Khawar

Nov 02, 2015 11:54pm

Thank You Mr Jinnah for getting me an identity called Pakistan. Now I love my home country more than ever and I can understand what is called sagacity.

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Jawwad

Nov 03, 2015 12:39am

This issue is not worth commenting any more. We know it and Indians know it there are extremist amidst them. And if nothing is done about it like we ignored it in Pakistan, they will be in same situation as us in decades to follow.

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PAK

Nov 03, 2015 01:25am

Shiv Sena boys do dandiya dance with the bamboo sticks to show the power!!! OMG that's so scary!!!!

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Nov 03, 2015 02:24am

What else can Imran Tahir do?

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Indian

Nov 03, 2015 02:37am

Shiv Sena won't do anything because.... 1. Tahir is not Pakistani player. 2. Elections are over and Shiv Sena is winning. Now they neither have time nor interest in doing any protest against Tahir.

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arif ali

Nov 03, 2015 02:45am

Shiv Sena was always there. The difference is that during Modi's raaj they are getting stronger with government's implicit consent. If that is not the case, why the law enforcement could not stop the thugs from stopping BCCI office in full view of the media? This wasn't a random terrorist attack. This is the huge problem. The extremists in India are actually elected by people. In Pakistan, nobody who has extremist views is ever voted in by the people. In India and Maharashtra, BJP, Modi and Shiv Sena all came to power via polls. You will hardly see anyone from these extremist political parties including Modi himself ever condemning these incidents.

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Shahid Akbar

Nov 03, 2015 05:44am

ICC has no teeth and wont dare to say anything to India.

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Changez_Khan

Nov 03, 2015 06:41am

Shiv Sena MUST be declared the most dangerous terrorist organization.

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Alam

Nov 03, 2015 06:51am

Encouraging signs, no Indian came forward to defend Shiv Sena this time. Dawn is helping Indians to grow mentally as well.

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Mouli

Nov 03, 2015 06:41pm

The reason why Tahir should not worry: http://www.dawn.com/news/1051313

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Aashiq Rasool

Nov 04, 2015 07:00pm

There is no risk for those, because they are great personalities

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