High drama expected from SVIS as Giles final kicks off

Rizvi Springfield players and coaches wait for their opponents Swami Vivekanand to arrive at Azad Maidan yesterday. PIC/SURESH KARKERA

Swami Vivekanand International School (Borivli) director Yogesh Patel yesterday threatened to initiate legal proceedings against Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) this morning for their decision to ignore the school's protest regarding their Giles Shield semi-final match.

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"I will speak to my lawyers to file a case against MSSA and will send them a notice by tomorrow morning. We had sent MSSA a letter on Saturday, requesting for a fair decision and their president Father Jude (Rodrigues) had assured our school principal that he would speak to his committee members and take a call on the matter. But now, since they are not answering our phone calls, we have no option but to go to court," Patel, who is currently in Canada, told mid-day over the phone yesterday.
On Wednesday, SVIS refused to undertake the risky journey from Borivli to the Police Gymkhana ground in Marine Lines for Day Two of their semis versus Rizvi Springfield (Bandra), citing widespread tension across the city.

Consequently, match officials awarded the game to Rizvi, but later, after coming under immense pressure from many quarters for ignoring the sensitive issue of children's safety, MSSA revoked their decision and decided that the second day's play would be played at Azad Maidan on Sunday. However, SVIS did not turn up for the game yesterday and are demanding a re-match, claiming that Rizvi (352-3) had batted on a batting-friendly Police Gymkhana strip while the Azad Maidan ground would put the team batting second at a disadvantage.

MSSA have refused to accept SVIS' argument and cricket secretary Nadeem Memon warned SVIS of strict action. "Everyone was here... umpires, scorers, the Rizvi team except SVIS. This is how they are spoiling the image of MSSA. We have our rules and will take action against them, as well as their coach (Dinesh Lad)," said Memon.

Big game at Wankhede
The three-day final between Rizvi and Don Bosco (Matunga) gets underway at the Wankhede today. "Let them play the final. We don't want to spoil the game for other boys, but I stand by the school management's decision to file a legal petition in court," said Lad.

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