Pakistan’s former pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Wasim Akram have been asked to go back to Pakistan before the fifth ODI between India and South Africa owing to a looming security threat.
Akram and Akhtar were commentating in the ongoing India and South Africa ODI series.
The development follows ICC’s withdrawal of Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar from officiating in the remaining matches of the on-going India versus South Africa series following threats from Shiv Sena.
Akram’s agent Arsalan Haider told Cricinfo that after commentating in fourth one-day international in Chennai, the former Pakistan captain will return home on October 23, along with Akhtar who is also part of Star Sports’ commentary team.
The final ODI between India and South Africa is scheduled to be played in Mumbai on October 25.
Shiv Sena is a junior partner of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra state. BJP is often labelled as a “Hindu revivalist” party.
Mumbai has traditionally been a stronghold of Shiv Sena. The party has in the past, too, protested against the participation of Pakistani players.
