Stop this gambling by industrialists, save cricket: Thackeray

Mumbai, Feb 22 (UNI) Referring to the recent auction, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has urged Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sharad Pawar to stop this ''gambling by industrialists and save the game of cricket''.

In an open letter written to Mr Pawar, which appeared on the front page of Shiv Sena mouthpiece ''Saamna'' today, Mr Thackeray said the rich people were corrupting the game of cricket.

The players are being purchased and their prices are being determined in accordance to the region from which they hail.

This trend, Mr Thackeray said in his letter to Mr Pawar, will severely affect the concentration of the players and lead to cricket's decline.

Mr Thackeray said that if the industrialists are going to purchase the players with the help of money, then the country would not even need the government and the industrialists will govern.

''Saamna'' also carried an editorial ''Cricketchi Saudebaazi Thambava (stop the trading in cricket)'', which berated the huge spendings on cricket while neglecting other sports. There should be some control over this gambling.

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