From correspondents in Maharashtra, India, 07:31 PM IST

Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray put a dampener on the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders by demanding that no Pakistani player should be permitted to play in the league.

'We have been opposing their (Pakistani) players here for many years now,' Uddhav told reporters here on the sidelines of a campaign for the forthcoming by-election from Thane to the Lok Sabha.

In the last two decades, Shiv Sena has consistently opposed Pakistani cricket teams' visists to India and has even dug up pitches at venues to fouil the matches.

When asked about Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil's criticism of the Sena's 'Shiv Vada Pav' scheme, Uddhav said it was unjustified.

In a boost for the Sena, Navi Mumbai's Kunbi Sena leader Vishwanath Patil Friday came out in support of Anand Paranjape, the Shiv Sena candidate for the parliamentary by-election.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)