MCA bans SRK for 5 yrs, BCCI divided on the issue

Mumbai: The Mumbai Cricket Association today banned Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan from entering the Wankhede Stadium for five years for misbehaving with its officials and violating its rules. The “unanimous” decision was taken at the MCA Managing Committee meeting called to discuss action on Khan who was involved in a skirmish with the security and officials of the association after KKR’s victory over Mumbai Indians on Wednesday night. MCA president Vilasrao Deshmukh, who chaired the meeting, said that his association was sending out a message that misbehaviour of any kind would not be tolerated. [caption id=“attachment_313454” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“AFP”] [/caption] “If rules are violated, action will be taken. It does not depend who the individual is. It’s a message to everyone whosoever he or she may be that stern action will be taken if there is any misbehaviour,” he told a press conference adding that the actor’s behaviour was “disgusting and improper”. Khan had, however, had denied he had misbehaved and acted only after children, including his kids, were “manhandled” by the security staff. Deshmukh said Khan had violated rules. “Had the incident happened in the stands it would’ve been a different matter. But you can’t get on the field and do all this. How can he go inside the ground without proper accreditation. Even I can’t go inside the ground if not invited for presentation ceremony,” Deshmukh said. “We have handed a five-year ban on him and it was a unanimous decision. It applies to any match whether domestic or international at the Wankhede,” he said. Asked if BCCI can reverse this decision to ban Khan, Deshmukh said, “We have taken a decision to protect the dignity of our association. BCCI is our parent body and we have written to them informing what had happened. We have no control over BCCI’s decision. We are also an independent body with the Wankhede being our property.” BCCI vice-president and IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla, however, said that a final decision will be taken by the BCCI. “State bodies can only recommend but a final decision has to be taken by the BCCI. When the matter comes to BCCI, the Board will decide (on the ban),” he told reporters in New Delhi. Interestingly, while Shukla said the BCCI will have the final say on the ban, fellow BCCI colleague and CAO Ratnakar Shetty said that the actor’s behaviour was unprecedented and that the association is higher than any individual. This clearly spells out that the BCCI is itself divided on the issue. Shetty added that the MCA had lodged an official complaint with the BCCI. Contradicting Shah Rukh’s statement yesterday that it was the MCA officials who were to blame for the ugly incident, Shetty said: “Our officials showed tremendous restraint. In spite of being abused with the foulest language, they were very restrained. Otherwise it could’ve turned into a very ugly incident.” Shetty also dismissed the actor’s claim that he was not drunk saying, “The ACP Colaba division said Shah Rukh was smelling of alcohol. I don’t think a civilian needs to speak on this any further.” With inputs from PTI