Bombay HC allows BCCI to conduct ODI at Brabourne

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has given its nod to the BCCI to conduct a one-day match between India and the West Indies on October 29 at Brabourne Stadium, which is governed by the Cricket Club of India (CCI). The HC rejected the petition filed by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) opposing the BCCI’s decision to conduct the match at the stadium.

A division bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai said it did not want to interfere in this issue as several cases pertaining to the administration of the MCA were before the Supreme Court. The MCA could approach the apex court challenging the BCCI’s decision, it said.

The bench had last week refused to grant a stay on the sale of tickets for the one-day international (ODI) match. The MCA and its two members —Sanjay Naik and Ravi Savant — said in the petition that the BCCI's decision to shift the match venue was illegal and arbitrary.

While Wankhede Stadium is managed by the MCA, Brabourne Stadium belongs to the Cricket Club of India. MCA counsel M.M. Vashi had contended that the BCCI decided to shift the match only because the MCA could not submit a “hosting agreement”.

The city cricket body had agreed to comply with all other conditions, including those pertaining to ticket sales and broadcasting rights, the lawyer said.

“However, we could not submit the (hosting) agreement as it had to be signed by an administrator. At present, the Mumbai Cricket Associ-ation has no administrator,” he said, adding that only for this reason, the BCCI had decided to shift the match.

“Brabourne Stadium is not equipped to host an international match. The last match played there was in 2009,” advocate Vashi argued.