London: Despite Shiv Sena's threat, legendary spinner Shane Warne has urged his fellow Australians to feature in the third edition of the cash-awash IPL, starting on March 12.
''As far as I've said, and what I have heard and read, I've got no security issues whatsoever,'' Warne said.
''There's been things put in the press about minority incidents happening in Melbourne, which is a terrible shame and very unfortunate.
''I've been meeting with the premier of Victoria (John Brumby) to address a lot of those issues and come up with a plan to help the relationship between India and Australia,'' he told mediapersons here yesterday.
Shiv Sena had said Australians will be barred from playing matches in the city in retaliation for recent attacks on Indians living in Australia.
Warne, who led Rajasthan to victory in the inaugural IPL in 2008, added, ''There's a lot of security with the teams. I've got no issue whatsoever travelling to India.''
''It took me a while to appreciate the culture, the people and to enjoy India. The first few (Australia) tours, when you are losing, getting smashed all over the park and getting none for a hundred, it's not much fun.
''But the last couple of tours we managed to beat India over there, I really started to enjoy the people and their passion,'' explained Warne, who retired from Test cricket following Australia's 5-0 Ashes whitewash of England in 2007.
''And being involved in the last few years in the IPL, I've got no issues whatsoever in going to India,'' he added.
In a bid to rescind Shiv Sena's threat against Australian cricketers, ICC president-elect Sharad Pawar, held talks on Sunday with party chief Bal Thackeray.



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