Shift IPL matches out of Maharashtra after April 30: Bombay HC

Indian Premier League matches after April 30 won't be held in Maharashtra due to the drought, the Bombay High Court ruled on Wednesday (April 13).

The ruling was made after the court heard a Public Interest Litigation regarding the matches being held in the state despite the drought. 13 matches will be affected now due to the ruling, which includes the Eliminator and the 2nd Qualifier originally scheduled to be held in Pune and the final, which was supposed to be played in Mumbai on May 29. Nagpur will also not be hosting any games this season.

The BCCI on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that shifting matches out of the state was not feasible because of concerns over financial investments and the brand values of the defending IPL champions MI and new entrant RPS taking a hit. However, the HC has ruled that the matches cannot go ahead beyond the end of April while Maharashtra reels from the water crisis. The BCCI must now decide alternate venues for the concerned matches from May 1.

Post April 30, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is scheduled to host matches on May 8, 13, 15 and the final on May 29;Pune's Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium is scheduled to host nine matches during the IPL, including the Eliminator on May 25 and the Qualifier 2 on May 27' and Nagpur is Kings XI Punjab's second 'home' ground, with the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground slotted to host three matches on May 7, 9 and 15.

According to reports, the RPS franchise has said that shifting matches from Pune at this stage would result in the loss of brand and team value as well as home fan support. "We can't run away from the fact that we have invested, moving out will upset the balance. The brand and value of the team gets disturbed. We are there only for two years and yet we are willing to make this sacrifice. Changing the stadia is a problem," was the franchise's stance, according to Times Now.

Regarding the Kings XI Punjab franchise, who are scheduled to play three matches in Nagpur, the BCCI said it needed to get in touch with the franchise but put forth an email from one of the stakeholders saying it will be a "logistical nightmare".

Anurag Thakur, the BCCI secretary, told reporters while the Bombay HC hearing was underway: "We have discussed giving help to the villages most affected by the drought. Our decision has been put forward. The BCCI is neither using potable water nor intends to do so."

On Tuesday, against the backdrop of Maharashtra continuing to suffer from severe drought, in particular the Marathwada region of the state, the BCCI had told the Bombay HC that it would only use sewage water to maintain the pitches and stadia in Mumbai and Pune. Rafiq Dada, senior counsel for the BCCI, informed the HC that following the previous hearing, the respective state associations had entered into an agreement with the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) whereby it would provide water from its sewage treatment plant for the pitches. The HC accepted Dada's statements on behalf of the BCCI and a bench comprising Justice VN Kamade and Justice MS Karnik directed the board to procure an undertaking from the RWITC in regards to the same. The bench had also asked the BCCI if it was willing to donate to the Chief Minister's drought relief fund, and if so to what extent, as well as if it would donate 40 lakhs litres of water to the drought effected areas. The BCCI has agreed to the the last two requests, but not to shifting the matches out of Maharashtra.

Pune's Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium is scheduled to host nine matches during the IPL, including the Eliminator on May 25 and the Qualifier 2 on May 27. Nagpur is KXIP's second 'home' ground, with the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground slotted to host three matches on May 7, 9 and 15. The Mohali-based franchise had earlier indicated that it was ready to shift its three matches out of Nagpur.

The Bombay HC had allowed the IPL 9 opener between hosts MI and RPS to go ahead as scheduled last Saturday, citing that the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Loksatta Movement against the use of water to hydrate the Wankhede Stadium pitches had been filed too late, and that the organisers had already made the necessary arrangements.