SC to hear MCA plea for holding IPL matches in Maharashtra

The Supreme Court will hear, on Monday, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) plea against the Bombay High Court order asking the Indian cricket board to shift all the 12 IPL matches including the final out of the state in the wake of severe drought situation in Vidarbha and Marathwada.

A bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh said that the matter would be listed for hearing as senior counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing for the MCA, mentioned the petition for an early hearing. He also told the court: "We are not against people of Vidarbha and Marathwada and have full sympathy with them."

He said there were difficulties including that of logistics in holding the matches earlier scheduled to be played in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur at any other cricketing venue outside the state.

The MCA moved the apex court contesting the high court order directing the shifting of 12 matches outside the state in wake of the unprecedented drought situation in some parts of the state including in Vidarbha and Marathwada.

Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur were to host 13 IPL matches including final at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium but the high court, by its April 13 order, taking note of the drought conditions, ordered them to be shifted outside the state. However, later one match was allowed to be played at Pune.

--IANS

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