Mumbai cricket body bans Ratnakar Shetty for five years

The Mumbai Cricket Association Tuesday slapped a five-year ban on its member Ratnakar Shetty for alleging that some of its office-bearers were involved in black-marketing of India-Pakistan T20 match tickets at Ahmedabad last year.

The MCA managing committee took the stern action against Shetty, who has served the association for many years in various capacities, including secretary, treasurer and vice president, for his comments at the March 22 annual general meeting (AGM).

Shetty said during the AGM that MCA office-bearers indulged in "black-marketing of T20 Ahmedabad match (between India and Pakistan) tickets on Dec 22, 2012", said the MCA letter served on Shetty Tuesday.

The letter, signed by MCA joint secretaries P.V. Shetty and Nitin Dalal, accused Ratnakar Shetty of bringing the association and the office-bearers to "disrepute" by making "false and baseless allegations" which has "tarnished" its image

"It is unanimously decided to debar you for a period of five years, from June 3, 2013 to June 2, 2018, from participating in any matters pertaining to the activities of the MCA.

"Further, you shall not be permitted to represent any member club of the association, any tournament committee, any sponsor, franchisee, contractor, or any person who has any relation with the MCA, contractual or otherwise, during the said period of five years," the letter added.

Describing the decision as "undemocratic", Shetty said it was a "personal vendetta by people who want to make sure that I do not contest the next elections". He also vowed to fight the decision both within the association and legally.