NCP president and Union Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar [ Images ] met Shiv Sena [ Images ] supremo Bal Thackeray [ Images ] at the latter's residence on Sunday night.

The meeting at Matoshree, apparently to discuss the Sena's opposition to inclusion of Pakistan and Australia [ Images ] players in the third edition of the Indian Premier League [ Images ], has created ripples in the state political circles, as both NCP and Sena are in an uneasy partnership with their respective allies - Congress and BJP.

Pawar was accompanied by Board of Control for Cricket in India president Shashank Manohar [ Images ].

While Pawar has come under flak from Congress leaders over price rise, Sena is vociferously opposed to a separate Vidarbha state, the demand backed by its ally BJP.

It may be too early to term the meeting between the two leaders as the beginning of a possible political realignment in the state, but it is sure to upset their allies.

About 20 Australians, including Shane Warne [ Images ], Matthew Hayden [ Images ], Mike Hussey [ Images ] and Brett Lee [ Images ], will be playing in the upcoming IPL. The Australian Cricket Players' Association had voiced security concerns of their players playing in Mumbai [ Images ] in light of the Sena's threat to oppose Australian players' participation because of attacks on Indians Down Under.