MCA keen to start Mumbai Premier League proceedings in consultation with BCCI

The Mumbai Cricket Association will have to take BCCI’s Committee of Administration’s permission to find out if they can go ahead with the proposed Mumbai Premier League and the sale of naming rights for the Wankhede Stadium. The present office bearers of the Board have finished with their terms hence they don’t have the power to take major decisions.

The elections are still a few weeks away; they are scheduled for November 10, but the MCA members think that they would be left with very little time to organize the T20 league hence the process must start from now. They are going to approach the CoA after former managing committee member Ravi Mandrekar warned MCA President Ashish Shelar for not inducing major changes.

“We have just started the process of organizing the MPL as well as granting the naming rights for the Stadium. Ultimately, we will have to get necessary approvals and permissions. The decision to rename the Wankhede Stadium will have to be ratified by the general body.

“The show must go on. If the elections (scheduled on November 10) take place, we will not have much time to prepare for the MPL. That’s why the process has to begin now,” said an MCA source.

Mandrekar points out MCA have no power

According to Mandrekar, who represents Gaud Saraswat Cricket club, the office bearers are mere caretakers till the elections take place. He reiterated that the officials don’t have the power to make wholesale changes and the approval of the general body will be required.

“You have announced that MCA elections will be held on 10th November 2017. Therefore, the present managing committee is a caretaker committee till elections are held. I understand that the present managing committee is trying to finalize deals for MPL franchisees, title sponsor etc. This will be illegal as a caretaker committee has no powers to take major financial decisions. In addition, no tenders have been invited for the same.

“I understand that the (managing) committee is trying to arrive at a financial deal. For such a financial deal, the Committee has no power. The approval of the general body will be required. For any major financial decision as well as charity commissioner approval is required,” this was the letter written by Mandrekar to the MCA President.

One of the MCA sources defended the Board by saying that they would respect the decision of the higher authorities and they don’t plan to make a financial decision of more than 3 lacs.

“We are not making financial decisions that will amount to more than R3 lakh. If things are on track, legal procedures will be respected.”