MCA

Indian Premier League

IPL

Gahunje

Kolkata Knight Riders

Kings XI Punjab

president

Maharashtra Cricket Association

Ajay Shirke

friends

proof

single chair

treasurer

superintendent

Manoj Lohiya

Member of Parliament

spread

Mubarak Ansari

AJAY SHIRKE President

It was just about three years ago that Punekars were accorded the privilege of watching) matches and onedayers as the MCA Stadium inplayed host. This entitlement is now likely to be revoked. The remains of the day following Saturday’s match between(KKR) and, has provoked theof(MCA)to pull the plug on hosting matches here.Cricket fans will remember that this is not the first time that the no-nonsense MCA chief put his foot down, defying opportunistic local body officials and politicians. Shirke had cancelled the India Vs Sri Lanka ODI in 2007 at the Nehru Stadium when people in power tried to arm-twist their way into availing of free tickets.“Pune does not deserve to watch a match at this international stadium,” said an angry Shirke on Monday. He was projecting the association’s decision to not accept any invitation to host a match at the stadium in future.Justifying its stand, Shirke pointed to the flaws in the system — ranging from security breach, police compromising on law and hooliganism at the stands, writ large in the number of broken seats and gutkha stains found after Saturday’s match and tantrums of celebrities.“The stadium was filled beyond capacity; it subsequently emerged that most people entering the stadium wereand relatives of the police, evident by the police accreditations strung around their necks.” MCA authorities smelt a rat when they ran a check following the overcrowding. The tags were confiscated and the people sent marching out of the premises eventually. “There needs to be a serious implementation of the law for an event such as this one to play out peacefully,” said Shirke.According to MCA reports, a total of 115 seats (stomp, and each is designed to take a weight up to 200 kgs) were broken by the spectators. There were also instances reported of three people cheering and jumping on a. “Most of them seemed overwhelmed by the cheerleaders,” said a wry Shirke, who is also a member in the IPL governing council. “We thought the Pune audience was more evolved than a gutkha chewing-spitting lot. Thanks to their revelry, the floors have stubborn stains. We need to press top-of-the-line cleaners into service to get the stadium up to its original shine. We really don’t need this.”Elaborating on other security breaches, the former BCCIsaid, “People of this city are drunk on a VVIP syndrome. While some would not concede to security checks, others refrain from sticking car passes on their windshields. Then, there are others who re-cycle their accredidations. We have confiscated 150-odd passes within half an hour.” He also referred to the video footage of policemen jumping the turnstiles, while some of their colleagues were seated in the VVIP enclosure.When Mirror drew up the scenario forof police (Pune rural), he was ready with a retort. Said Lohiya, “The association had deployed its own personnel to check spectators’ tickets and passes. Neither the organiser of the matches nor management authorities of the stadium have brought this to my notice. I have not received any complaints yet.”Beyond this, what further incensed Shirke was a demand for 500 passes from a citizen, who claimed to be a former. “At other venues, stadium owners take 15- 20 per cent complimentary tickets; we hardly took one per cent. We want toa message that the team which opts to host a match here should get maximum profits through gate collection,” he said, pointing to a stack of letters of demand for free passes at his desk.“The hurdles are so many that hosting a match here has become a bane. I won’t let uncivilised public use our facilities like they use a public toilet. They have to display a modicum of decency, pride and a sense of ownership towards the facilities. In the absence of that, let this space only be used for our Maharashtra Ranji team. We are more than happy with that,” summed up Shirke.►► I won’t let uncivilised public use our facilities like they use a public toilet. They have to display a modicum of decency and pride