It will not be feasible to shift IPL matches out of Pune, the BCCI told the Bombay High Court on Wednesday, while stating that franchises of Mumbai and Pune teams are willing to contribute Rs five crore towards the Chief Minister's drought relief fund. The BCCI spelt out its stand before a bench of Justices V M Kanade and M S Karnik, hearing a PIL by NGO Loksatta Movement challenging use of large quantities of water in stadiums at a time when the state was reeling under severe drought conditions. BCCI's counsel Rafiq Dada also told the high court that the cricket board is ready to supply over 60 lakh litres of non-potable water to drought-hit areas in Maharashtra free of cost. He said the water will be supplied in support with Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), Mumbai Cricket Association and Maharashtra Cricket Association. "It would not be feasible to shift matches out of Pune as it will disturb the Pune team's brand value and economic balance," he said. The franchises of Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants are willing to contribute Rs five crore to the CM's drought relief fund, Dada said.
The Bombay high court on Tuesday allowed the Board of Control for Cricket in India to host Indian Premier League matches in Maharashtra only till April 30 after which it has asked the organisers to shift the matches outside the state.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India's probe panel on spot-fixing and betting charges in the Indian Premier League struck down as "illegal" as it was set up in violation of its own rules, the Bombay high court said on Wednesday. It went on to add that a prima facie case is made out that BCCI president-in-exile N Srinivasan was involved in its formation.
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