The Mumbai Cricket Association and Maharashtra Cricket Association in a joint Special Leave Petition have moved the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court’s decision to move most of the Indian Premier League matches scheduled in Maharashtra out of the state. Last week’s verdict had forced the IPL authorities to find alternative venues for 13 of the 20 matches, which were scheduled to be staged in Maharashtra, due to severe drought in the state. The petition is understood to have strongly objected to the maintainability of the order issued by the Bombay HC. On Wednesday, the Bombay High Court allowed the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s appeal to allow the May 1 match to be staged in Pune despite having ordered that all the May games be moved out of Maharashtra.
The BCCI had not only decided to challenge the High Court directive but also in consultation with the affected home franchises — Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants — shortlisted Jaipur and Visakhapatnam as alternate home venues for both teams. It is understood that officials of both Maharashtra and Mumbai bodies are not only upset with the parent body not challenging the order but also with many details mentioned by the court. During the hearing of the PIL filed by Loksatta Foundation earlier this month, both state associations had promised to use sewage water for maintaining the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and the Maharashtra Cricket Association’s stadium at Gahunje, on the outskirts of Mumbai.
