Mumbai Cricket Association agree to all conditions laid out by BCCI to host the IPL final including lifting the five-year ban on Kolkata Knight Riders' owner Shah Rukh Khan
SRK at the Wankhede Stadium in 2012. Pic/AFP
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is desperate to get the Indian Premier League (IPL) final back to Wankhede Stadium.
SRK gestures towards a security guard at the Wankhede Stadium in 2012. Pic/AFP
Yesterday, they accepted all 14 conditions that IPL chairman Ranjib Biswal had stated in a letter to MCA.
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The MCA had shot off a letter to the IPL asking reasons for their decision to shift the June 1 final to Bangalore. "We have accepted all their conditions. Our president (Sharad Pawar) is keen that the IPL final be played in Mumbai.
We have two Mumbai players in the IPL Governing Council and we hope to get the final back to Wankhede," said Ravi Savant, who is the vice-president of MCA and BCCI.
By accepting to all conditions, the MCA has cleared the way for Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, to enter the Wankhede.
One of the conditions of IPL was to allow all team owners to enter Wankhede. The Bollywood super star was banned by MCA for five years after he was involved in a scuffle with a security guard and an few MCA officials during the 2012 IPL match vs Mumbai Indians at Wankhede.
When asked Savant whether Shah Rukh's ban has been lifted permanently, he said: "We have accepted all their conditions pertaining to this match (IPL final). They wanted more parking space and VIP boxes, so we decided to let go our passes to accommodate their guests."
Gavaskar clarifies...
BCCI-IPL president Sunil Gavaskar, who was at the BCCI yesterday, said: "The main issue to move the final from Wankhede was the bursting of fireworks after 10pm. We have a closing ceremony every season."
Meanwhile, some MCA officials are not confident of the final returning to Mumbai despite accepting all conditions. "It looks difficult that they (BCCI) will revert the decision. Since we asked for the reasons they replied stating these conditions.
The IPL final is shifted to Bangalore in order to please certain members which would be beneficial for the Board elections in September. We have tried our level best to keep the match in Mumbai. Now, the BCCI has to decide on this," said an official.
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