The US $ 175,000 championship is scheduled to be held here from November 29-December 6. But the Sena's anti-Pakistan stance made the promoters (Procam Sports) and the Professional Squash Association (PSA) to do a hasty rethink in going ahead with the plans.

Anil Singh, Managing Director of Procam Sports, said: "As of now, no decision (on changing the venue) has been taken. But we (Procam) will be having a meeting with the sponsors (Mahindras) and the PSA shortly and a final decision will be known within the next week."

Bangalore appears to be the likely alternative to host the championship should the all-important meeting decide not to risk holding the world meet in Mumbai.

John Nimick, the executive director of the PSA, told The Indian Express in April that "while the success of the championship is important, the safety of the players wouldbe our paramount consideration" as far as the PSA was concerned.

Nimick was reacting to the threat by the Shiv Sena to the mega event -- the richest-ever in the history of the sport. The Sena was emphatic that Pakistani sportspersons and artistes would not be allowed to perform on Indian soil as a protest against the killings of innocent Kashmiris by Pakistani militants.

Their belligerent stance forced the cancellation of eight-time world champion Jansher Khan's proposed coaching in Mumbai from May 8-10. Jansher obviously did not want to take any chances after learning that about 100-odd Sena activists had prevented famed Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali from giving a concert in Mumbai, vandalised the place and musical equipment and roughed up the organisers.

There are around 12 Pakistanis in the top 100 of the PSA world rankings. And unless the PSA sees a significant change in the attitude by the Sena towards Pakistani sportspersons, the Mahindra World Open is almost certain to be shifted away fromMumbai.