Mumbai, Maharashtra associations move SC against IPL relocation

The Mumbai Cricket Association and the Maharashtra Cricket Association approached the Supreme Court on Friday against the Bombay high court’s verdict of moving Indian Premier League (IPL) matches out of Maharashtra.

The Bombay high court had ruled on April 13 that all IPL matches scheduled to be held in Maharashtra after April 30 should be relocated due to the ongoing water scarcity in the state. The court later allowed the match between Rising Pune Supergiants’ and defending champions Mumbai Indians to be held in Pune as scheduled.

The Special Leave Petition (SLP) jointly submitted by the two cricket associations before a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh on Friday urged the apex court to allow the original schedule to be retained.

The bench has listed the matter for hearing on April 25. In their plea, filed by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, the two cricket associations said that they will not use potable water to prepare pitches and for ground maintenance, but will use treated sewage water instead.

The Bombay high court’s decision will affect 13 matches, including two IPL play-offs and the final. Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), who were scheduled to play three ‘home’ matches in Nagpur, have decided to shift the games to Dharamsala.

Mumbai Indians meanwhile have opted for Jaipur as their new ‘home’ ground. Rising Pune Supergiants are scheduled to play their remaining home matches in Visakhapatnam. The IPL final, originally slotted to be played in Mumbai on May 29, will now be played in Bengaluru. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Mumbai and Pune franchises have argued that moving the matches out of Maharashtra will affect their brand value and is also unfair to their home fans.