Pawar and Thackeray talked cricket

MUMBAI: The big meeting between NCP president, Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena chief, Bal Thackeray on Sunday was finally all about cricket. More specifically, a match in Mumbai.

Pawar,  president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), requested Thackeray  to withdraw his  opposition to  Pakistani cricketers playing in Mumbai.

Sena spokesperson, Sanjay Raut, who was present at the meeting, neither confirmed nor denied the report. "What transpired between the two leaders is strictly confidential and cannot be revealed. Let the Pakistanis come to Mumbai first before we decide what to do."

Sources said  Pawar argued that an India-Pakistan cricket match in Mumbai would  also help India with the organisation of the World Cup in 2011.

The BCCI plans to kick off the Indian Premier League T-20 tournament in March with Mumbai as a venue. Several  Pakistanis  are expected to participate. Pawar steps down as BCCI chief in July 2008 when he will be elected vice-president of the International Cricket Council (ICC). He is likely to contest the presidential election in 2010.

According to sources, if Pawar manages to convince Thackeray, it will do his image a lot of good with the ICC. "Pawar wants to step down from the BCCI in style. Even if Pakistan plays only one match in Mumbai, the credit will go to him," they added.