Published: Mar 17, 2018, 03:33 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 17, 2018, 03:04 PM (IST)
When the IPL 2018 schedule was announced, the Qualifier 2 and Eliminator venues were not mentioned. Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) had requested BCCI to allot these two matches at Pune on the basis of the fact that the now defunct Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) had finished runners-up in the last edition. The IPL Governing Council on Friday have accepted the request and are considering Pune as the second location after Kolkata.
If the stadium and wicket is ready to host the matches, the qualifier 2 and eliminator would be held in Pune. Rajiv Shukla, IPL chairman, after the GC meeting said: “For the play-off, there was a suggestion that since Rising Pune Supergiant (which is now defunct) was the runners-up last time, we should give first priority to Pune. If the Pune stadium and the wicket is ready, the first priority would be given to Pune, if not, then we will consider Kolkata for the playoffs.”
Apart from the venue, the IPL GC also sought legal opinion on the change of ownership of Chennai Super Kings (CSK): “As far as CSK is concerned, we had Justice AP Shah to give his opinion, who was also the Ombudsman in the BCCI, so his opinion has been accepted.”
As far as Mohammed Shami’s fate in cricket is concerned, the IPL GC would be sticking to ACU’s report. It is understood that the CoA will take a call on Shami after a week, based on the report: “As far as Shami is concerned, we’ve decided that we will go by the report of the ACU chief. Whatever his recommendation is, our will be our final decision will be based on that. We’ve nothing to do with anybody’s private life. If Neeraj Kumar’s recommendation gives him a clean chit, then he can play, if he doesn’t, then he won’t.”
