Pakistan-born South African cricketer Imran Tahir has been confined to his team hotel in Mumbai, Wisden India reported.

Tahir’s Pakistan connection has reportedly forced the South African team management to avoid taking any risks as atmosphere in Indian state of Maharashtra remains unsafe for Pakistani nationals.

“There were instructions from the team management that Tahir should not leave the team hotel at any point of time when in Mumbai.

“Since Tahir is born in Pakistan, the team management took extra security precaution. It was only to avoid any untoward incident,” a source close to the South African team said on Saturday.

Mumbai has traditionally been a stronghold of Shiv Sena and the party has in the past, too, protested against the participation of Pakistani players.

The move reportedly comes after the Oct 19 Mumbai fiasco when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan was due to meet the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief Shashank Manohar.

Manohar had invited Shaharyar to discuss the prospect of a bilateral series between the two countries. But as soon as Shaharyar reached the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, some workers of Sena stormed into the building protesting the PCB chief’s visit and shouting anti-Pakistan slogans.

Following the episode, Shiv Sena also threatened to stop Pakistan’s Aleem Dar from officiating in the fifth ODI between India and South Africa in Mumbai, which forced the International Cricket Council (ICC) to withdraw him from the match.