Former vice-president and treasurer of Mumbai Cricket Association, Prof Ratnakar Shetty replied to the showcause notice issued by the MCA's managing committee regarding his allegations about 150 tickets of the India vs Pakistan T20 match in Ahmedabad on December 28 being black marketed.
“I wish to clarify that I have not made any allegations of black marketing against any office bearers, or members of the Managing Committee for that matter. Hence, there is no question of providing evidence for what I did not allege,” Shetty stated in his reply.
“I did make the statement that it is quite likely that an individual who was not a MCA member and got 150 tickets could have indulged in black marketing. The secretaries wrote to Saurashtra Cricket Association on 28th March after I raised the issue in the AGM and got a reply from them. Does this mail from SCA prove that the tickets were not resold?” Shetty asked.
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“If the secretaries could write to SCA and confirm about the receipt of 150 tickets, what stopped them from taking similar steps for getting official communication to book 150 tickets? Why did they not take advance payment of Rs 1.5 lakh from SCA? Why did they not take a letter from SCA as to whom the tickets are to be handed over in Ahmedabad? Why did they not take a letter from SCA as to the fact that they would not make the payment but one Mr Iayveer Shah would make the payment?” he added.
Shetty also stated that he was compelled to raise the issue after repeated reminders to joint secretaries regarding information on tickets of the T20 match proved futile.