MCA says that Shah Rukh is the IPL team owner and his presence in the stadium can attract crowds.
Shah Rukh Khan’s fans can finally heave a sigh of relief as the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has decided to lift the ban imposed on him from entering Wankhede stadium. They can now look forward to seeing him at the stadium. The actor’s presence will also bring in more crowds to the stadium as he is very popular among the youth. Few members of the MCA felt that since Shah Rukh had already completed three years and had abided by the rules by not trying to enter the stadium hence the ban must be revoked now in 2015. The tenure of the ban will end in 2017. The Bollywood superstar was banned for five years from entering MCA premises, including the Wankhede Stadium, by the Association’s Managing Committee, headed by the late Vilasrao Deshmukh, on May 18, 2012 after he was involved in an altercation with the security staff and officials of the cricket body following Kolkata Knight Riders’ victory over Mumbai Indians two nights earlier.
“In the MCA meeting, it was decided that the ban imposed on IPL’s Kolkata franchise owner Shah Rukh Khan should be lifted. With the prior approval of our President Sharad Pawar, it was proposed by me that the ban on him be lifted and the managing committee approved it unanimously. Therefore, the ban on his entry in the Wankhede Stadium has been revoked,” BJP city unit President Ashish Shelar said.
“Action had been taken against him when required and we felt it was not good to take it any further. The whole managing committee consented on it. We felt it would not look good to bar somebody like this,” Shelar said.
Youth are happy with the MCA’s decision to lift the ban on Shah Rukh’s entry into Wankhede stadium. Here is what they had to say:
Anmol Shah, a Kandivali resident said, “I am a huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan and watch all his movies. When a ban was imposed on his entry into the Wankhede stadium I became unhappy. Now I can look forward to see him in the stadium.”
Rishabh Rathod, a Borivali resident, “Indian people are crazy about cricket and Bollywood. Thus after the lifting of the ban people can watch Shah Rukh and also enjoy cricket.”
Salim Khan minced no words while saying that last week’s protest outside his Mumbai residence was orchestrated by Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar.
“In this particular case, I can tell you that it was all done by BJP leader (Ashish Shelar). He (Shelar) had openly said that he will hit him (Salman) hard whenever he gets an opportunity,” Salim Khan said.
According to sources, “By supporting Shah Rukh Khan Ashish Shelar is plotting Salman’s downfall. Salman has actively participated in election campaign for Baba Siddique who was Ashish Shelar’s rival. Shelar is also the Vice-President of the Mumbai Cricket Association so he had a vital role to play in revoking the ban imposed on Shah Rukh Khan’s entry into Wankede.”
The MCA had offered to temporarily lift the ban on Shah Rukh last year, in what was a failed attempt at bringing back the IPL final from Bangalore to Mumbai. That offer, however, was just for the final. This time, however, the ban has been consigned to history for good.
The BCCI wants its headquarters, currently based in Wankhede Stadium in South Mumbai, to be shifted to Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA)-owned ground in the suburban Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC).
The MCA has decided to accommodate the request for a BCCI centre at the requested place.
Besides, the MCA has also decided to accommodate its managing committee members in the Wankhede’s presidential box which would be extended to 200 more seats.
