The Bombay High Court asking BCCI to shift matches from the drought-hit Maharashtra has brought in reactions from all over the country. This move is not just a big blow to the fans, but also to the state, which will be facing a loss of revenue.
The BCCI also expressed its concern over moving of matches midway through the tournament and said that it is being targeted unfairly.
“We are not using drinking water, we have said that we’ll use treated sewage water only. How many swimming pools of 5 star hotels have been shut? Have people stopped watering their lawns?” questioned BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, who also said that this was an attempt to create a negativity around the eight-year old league.
On one side, there is support pouring in for BHC's call, whereas the others are questioning the logic behind this decision.
With 13 matches spread across Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur in the month of May, Pune was to host two of the play-offs and the final was scheduled to be hosted at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium.
Amidst all the reactions, the cricket fraternity have raised their concerns over the issue too.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni:
“If you see, all these questions are good to hear, I think for us it’s more important to seek long-term solutions. I think people talking about whether matches should happen or not, it’s more momentarily driven than anything else.
“I think what’s important for us as a county is to see what the long-term solution is and we have to move in that direction."
Rahul Dravid:
"People suffer gravely in drought. If you tell me 'ban IPL & there'll be no drought' , I'd say, sure, ban it. Drought is a very serious issue. Putting cricket or IPL and against it, I'm afraid is trivialising the issue."
V.V.S Laxman:
"I don't think that it is a solution. You have to find out the root cause of the problem. As I mentioned, it's been bad as far as monsoons are concerned. It's not only a problem in one state but throughout the country.
“So, shifting from Mumbai will not be a real solution. I am sure the government is looking into it and the necessary departments have to take all the precautions so that it does not happen. Because, this is going to be a problem. We have seen so much of global warming.
"One of the major effects is climate change which indirectly will affect the water. We have seen that in the past. It affects the country, not one or two cities. Both are very crucial. I definitely feel for the farmers, what they are going through.
“This year, because of a bad monsoon, there is a lot of water shortage. Not only for farmers, but throughout the country, there is a lot of water shortage. I know everyone is looking for negatives as far as IPL is concerned."
Sunil Gavaskar:
"The issue of drought is one such where many lives are at stake. I am no expert on ground and pitch preparation and how much water will be consumed for it, nor do I know whether the water that will be saved if the matches are not played can be used to irrigate the lands that have become dry and parched.
“What, however, is without any doubt is that it is the farmers of this country that help put our food on the table and if their lives are at stake, then whatever needs to be done must be done to ensure that not even one life is lost."
"The BCCI… will no doubt do what is in the best interest of the nation. There will certainly be losses to the franchises if the games are moved out of their home grounds but, as happened in 2009 and 2014 when the tournament was moved to South Africa and UAE, the franchises will no doubt get compensated… It is a small price to pay, for the alternative could well be unnecessary loss of lives of those whose hard work gives us our daily roti and dal."
Aakash Chopra:
Ayaz Memon:
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