 "Rajasthan HC questions IPL matches in Jaipur")
The fate of three matches of Mumbai Indians to be held in Jaipur next month has come under a cloud, following the Rajasthan High Court issuing notices to the state government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday.
The notices seek an explanation from the government and the BCCI on the validity of holding Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in a water-starved state. The notices were issued in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed on Wednesday by a Jaipur-based journalist. Both parties have been given time till April 27 to explain their positions.
The Rajasthan High Court's directive has come within weeks of similar observations made by the Bombay High Court.
Last week, in a meeting between IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla and the affected teams, the Pune franchise had opted for Visakhapatnam, while the Mumbai team preferred Jaipur. Pune would play four matches in Visakhapatnam's Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy ACA-VDCA stadium, while Mumbai Indians is scheduled to play its three matches at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Bengaluru will host the final and first qualifier, while Kolkata will host the eliminator and second qualifier.
Mumbai Indians officials were not available for a comment. Sources, however, said the BCCI is expected to highlight the logistical nightmare that venue-shifting entails. It had made a similar plea before the Bombay High Court. The BCCI might even consider shifting the IPL outside India from next year, to avoid regulatory and legal hurdles.
The notices seek an explanation from the government and the BCCI on the validity of holding Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in a water-starved state. The notices were issued in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed on Wednesday by a Jaipur-based journalist. Both parties have been given time till April 27 to explain their positions.
The Rajasthan High Court's directive has come within weeks of similar observations made by the Bombay High Court.
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The Bombay High Court had ordered the BCCI and its cash-rich league to shift all matches out of drought-hit Maharashtra after April 30. While the BCCI and Maharashtra Cricket Association got a temporary relief for one match - to be held on May 1 in Pune between Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants - 12 matches will have to be organised outside the state.
Last week, in a meeting between IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla and the affected teams, the Pune franchise had opted for Visakhapatnam, while the Mumbai team preferred Jaipur. Pune would play four matches in Visakhapatnam's Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy ACA-VDCA stadium, while Mumbai Indians is scheduled to play its three matches at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Bengaluru will host the final and first qualifier, while Kolkata will host the eliminator and second qualifier.
Mumbai Indians officials were not available for a comment. Sources, however, said the BCCI is expected to highlight the logistical nightmare that venue-shifting entails. It had made a similar plea before the Bombay High Court. The BCCI might even consider shifting the IPL outside India from next year, to avoid regulatory and legal hurdles.