The ban on Shah Rukh Khan from entering the Wankhede was inevitable, given the nature of his run-in with the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and the unrepentant stance he exhibited throughout Thursday, writes The DNA. The MCA, however, had to decide the tenure of the ban thoughtfully considering the profile of the man — a cine star but, more importantly, an IPL franchise owner, adds the paper.
“So, after a managing committee meeting that lasted just over an hour, the MCA slapped a five-year ban on Shah Rukh from entering the Wankhede, instead of the life-ban they threatened earlier,” adds DNA.
MCA’s vice-president Ratnakar Shetty said the body had shown “extreme restraint in the face of abusive language being hurled on them.”
“The ban is a message to everyone that if anyone behaves like that action will be taken,” said MCA chief Vilasrao Deshmukh.
DNA has learnt that the MCA was divided on the term of the ban. The association’s treasurer Ravi Savant was firm that nothing less than a life-ban would suffice, a view seconded by four managing committee members. There was a suggestion that a one-year ban was just right since Shah Rukh, though abusive, didn’t harm anyone physically.
Meanwhile another report in The DNA says that despite repeated statements by Rajiv Shukla that the BCCI will have a final say on the matter, the board is unlikely to interfere in the internal affairs of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). Particularly in matters of ‘discipline’.
“The board, perhaps, would have been in a delicate position if Shah Rukh Khan was the owner of the Mumbai franchise. The BCCI has signed a certain agreements over letting the stadiums to the franchise owners. But in this case, there is no pressing reason for the board to request for an overturn of the ban. Besides, the MCA is one of the powerful associations affiliated to the BCCI and is headed by a powerful Union minister. It won’t be easy for the BCCI to ruffle feathers either. Vilasrao Deshmukh is no pushover in the BCCI power set-up,” adds the report.
When contacted, a board official said, “How can we intervene in their affairs? It’s their ground, their property and their rules. They have followed their constitution which the board recognises. The board cannot come into picture.”
According to a column of Shaun Marsh in The Times Of India it was a great feeling when Kings XI Punjab beat Chennai in Dharamsala on Thursday in a must-win situation. “They have been one of the best sides ever since the inception of IPL and we have managed to beat them twice this season so that will give us a lot of confidence ahead of our all-important game against Delhi on Saturday,” writes Marsh, adding that it was a convincing win on Thursday and the return of Adam Gilchrist was the best thing that could have happened to us.
“He is a legend and what a comeback match it proved out to be for him. With him playing like that at the top, our batting looks solid.”
Meanwhile Chennai all-rounder Albie Morkel says last-gasp thrillers in the IPL can be stressful for both players and spectators. “Everyone is on tenterhooks in those tense, closing stages.”
The fifth edition of the IPL has been the most competitive with 13 last-over finishes, 11 of these getting decided off the last ball, in the 67 matches played till Thursday night. And Morkel himself figured in two match-winning shows - he blasted 28 off seven balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore when CSK needed 43 off the last 12 balls and hammered 18 off six balls when his side required an improbable 47 off 24 balls
