The Mumbai Cricket Association today banned Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan from entering the Wankhede Stadium for five years for misbehaving with its officials and violating its rules.
The "unanimous" decision was taken at the MCA Managing Committee meeting called to discuss action on Khan who was involved in a skirmish with the security and officials of the association after KKR's victory over Mumbai Indians on Wednesday night.
MCA President Vilasrao Deshmukh, who chaired the meeting, said that his association was sending out a message that misbehaviour of any kind would not be tolerated.
"If rules are violated, action will be taken. It does not depend who the individual is. It's a message to everyone whosoever he or she may be that stern action will be taken if there is any misbehaviour," he told a press conference.
However, Khan denied he had misbehaved and acted only after children, including his own, were "manhandled" by the security staff.
Deshmukh said: "How can he go inside the ground without proper accreditation. Even I can't go inside the ground if not invited for presentation ceremony.
"We have handed a five-year ban on him and it was a unanimous decision. It applies to any match whether domestic or international at the Wankhede."
Asked if BCCI can reverse this decision to ban Khan, Deshmukh said, "We have taken a decision to protect the dignity of our association. BCCI is our parent body and we have written to them informing what had happened. We have no control over BCCI's decision. We are also an independent body with the Wankhede being our property."
IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla, however, said that a final decision would be taken by the BCCI.
"State bodies can only recommend but a final decision has to be taken by the BCCI. When the matter comes to BCCI, the Board will decide (on the ban)," he said in New Delhi.
