SRK unapologetic, MCA adamant; BCCI strives hard to broker peace

[sherlyk]

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has imposed a five year ban on Shah Rukh Khan for allegedly misbehaving with and abusing their officials. However, even as Khan remains unapologetic, the MCA is now also facing the opposition from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the decision to ban the actor from stepping on foot in the Wankhede stadium for five years.

Even as a back channel solution is underway, both bodies are now going louder over the "ownership" on the ground.

Taking strong cognizance of his unruly behaviour with the officials of the association as well as the security guards posted on the ground, who were preventing him from violating its rules, the MCA announced its ban on the actor for five years from stepping into Wankhede stadium.

However, even though "unanimous" decision was announced by the MCA president Vilasrao Deshmukh in a press conference, the MCA's action has not gone down too well with the BCCI. Sources say that the BCCI, which owns the stadium, has not assented to the MCA's ban.

A senior BCCI official says, "The MCA Managing Committee may have made the decision in its meeting based on their version of the events on Wednesday night and we understand that the tempers are flying high on both sides. However, the fact is that every IPL franchise has to pay for the use of the ground and the stadia and such issues cannot be blown out of proportion. We are looking into the matter before deciding if Shahrukh indeed crossed the line or not."

Meanwhile, the MCA, which administers the Wankhede stadium like all other cricket grounds in Mumbai is standing firm on its decision. In fact, in a conversation with Mail Today, Union Minister Deshmukh, who chaired the meeting which banned Shahrukh said that it was Shahrukh's unapologetic attitude that forced them to take this decision.

Deshmukh told Mail Today over the phone, "More than half of our officials were there witnessing (the brawl) and if his children were manhandled then he should have at least given a complaint against us (MCA). Why is it that we have made the first complaint? More than that, he has been very disrespectful of the association and I have to believe my officers about what happened there."

The MCA believes that the ban on Shahrukh is a message to anyone that highhandedness will not be taken kindly.

Deshmukh told Mail Today, "It was a unanimous decision as this is important to correct misbehaviour and disregard for rules. And Shahrukh did not have an accreditation to be there but also abused our officers."

When asked if the MCA would reconsider its decision in case Shahrukh extends an olive branch, Deshmukh remained non-committal but said, "Since yesterday we have seen his stand and he does not seem to be (in the mood) for anything like that. As of now, our committee's decision is final and we will not tolerate such behaviour from anyone."

But the BCCI bosses are working overtime through backchannels to broker peace between the MCA and Shahrukh.

An official says, "The MCA has told us about its proposed ban but it cannot be accepted in its current form. Moreover, they are administrators of the ground but ultimately the IPL is the BCCI's league as much as the stadium is the BCCI's. We are trying to figure out a way to end this stalemate and hopefully something will come through to see peace before the next match KKR plays."

Mumbai will be witness to another IPL match only next season but it clearly seems like the BCCI and the MCA are headed for a head-on collision over the proprietorship of the stadium in question.

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Keywords: Mumbai Cricket Association ,MCA, Shah Rukh Khan, Board of Control for Cricket in India ,BCCI, Wankhede stadium,MCA president Vilasrao Deshmukh, MCA's ban, IPL franchise, cricket grounds in Mumbai ,sports news, cricket news