Supreme Court Could Decide Fate Of Mumbai Hosting Fourth India-West Indies ODI

The Supreme Court might have the final say on the ongoing issue of feasibility of conducting a One-Day International match between India and West Indies in Mumbai on October 29.

The issue first cropped up due to the ongoing tussle between the BCCI and the state bodies over the complimentary passes. The cricket associations of Madhya Pradesh, Bengal and Tamil Nadu have already made it clear that they would not accept the BCCI’s new rule regarding the complimentary passes.

The second ODI between India and West Indies has already been shifted to Visakhapatnam from Indore due to the same reason. Under the new constitution of the BCCI, which has been approved by the Supreme Court, only 10% of tickets for each category can be distributed as complimentary.

However, the state bodies are not very impressed with it. And now Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) was also quick to express its displeasure.

To make things worse, the MCA has been without a head ever since the term of the two-member Committee of Administrators’ (CoA) comprising retired judges Hemant Gokhale and VM Kanade, ended on September 15. In April this year, the Bombay High Court had appointed the CoA to implement the Lodha reforms in the MCA.

Not surprisingly, an air of confusion is lingering over the association. The absence of a head is also affecting the association’s daily work.

To solve the issue, MCA Secretary Unmesh Khanwilkar and another member had approached the Bombay High Court. The officials had asked for appointment of an ad-hoc committee for the ODI.  However, the high court has asked them to approach the apex court.

“The documentation work is going on and in a day or two the petitioners in all likelihood will approach the top court seeking directions for the conduct of the October 29 game,” MCA sources said Wednesday.

The MCA officials are also set to meet the BCCI officials on Thursday to discuss the issue.