New Delhi, Nov 16 (IANS) Indian cricket board slammed Shiv Sena superemo Bal Thackeray Monday for picking on Sachin Tendulkar.

Thackeray has taken umbrage at the cricket maestro's statement last week that he was 'a proud Maharashtrian but an Indian first' and 'Mumbai belongs to all'.

In a signed, open letter to the cricketer published in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna, Thackeray has given 'a friendly advice' to Tendulkar that 'you concentrate on your international pitch' and asked him to stay away from politics for 'your own well-being'.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) spokesperson Rajiv Shukla said that Thackeray's comments were uncalled for.

'It is completely uncalled for. They (Shiv Sena) have no buisnees to talk like this. Tell me what crime Sachin has done? What is wrong in saying that 'I am an Indian and Mumbai belongs to all'. Mumbai is not out of India,' Shukla said.

'They themselves do not know about the legacy of Maharsahtra. They needed to be reminded of freedom fighters like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Gopal Krishna Gokhale. They are getting into this kind of politics just to get votes. The whole issue has been politicised,' Shukla said.

'No Marathi will support Shiv Sena if they talk like this,' he added.