Shiv Sena activists on Thursday damaged the pitch at the Agra sports stadium, venue for the December 24 veterans' cricket match between India and Pakistan.

The activists apparently scaled the wall of the stadium and entered the playing area late last night and dug up the pitch, police said.

The incident brought back memories of Sena's similar digging up of the Kotla pitch in Delhi when the Pakistan team toured India for a Test series in 1999.

Quoting eyewitnesses, the police said the activists entered the stadium with cans filled with oil in a bid to set the pitch on fire so that it could not be prepared again on time for the match.

But they sped away after digging the pitch as two constables reached the spot, they added.

The police raided a number of places to nab local office bearers of the Shiv Sena.