IPL should not be banned, Thackeray says

Mumbai:  The Indian Premier League (IPL) should not be banned despite the controversies surrounding it, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray said yesterday.

"Such scams will happen in any field, be it politics or cricket," said Thackeray, referring to financial irregularities being probed in the purchase of IPL franchises.

"A lot of talented players have got a chance to showcase their skills on this platform. Putting a ban on IPL is surely not the solution," he added. Thackeray, however, slammed Sharad Pawar, the agriculture minister and former Board of Control for Cricket in India chief, for not owning up responsibility for the mess.