MCA chief Pawar seeks explanation on IPL final snub

'We were not consulted over the decision…

'We will be asking for the explanation.'

The Mumbai Cricket Association on Saturday was left red-faced after the final of the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League, to be played on June 1, was moved from Mumbai to Bangalore.

- IPL 7 final moved from Mumbai to Bangalore

According to one of its officials, MCA chief Sharad Pawar will write to the Board of Control for Cricket in India seeking an explanation as to why the title clash was shifted.

"We have to spoken to Mr Pawar, who will be sending out a letter by today itself to the BCCI asking the reasons for shifting the match. This was a sudden decision that was taken today, because, all through, we were assured that the IPL final would not be moved out of the Wankhede stadium," the official said.

MCA vice-president Ravi Sawant said Board of Control for Cricket in India interim president Sunil Gavaskar and IPL chairman Ranjib Biswal had assured him that the final would not be shifted out of the Wankhede stadium.

"We were not consulted over the decision. We will be writing to the BCCI and ask for the explanation; once we get the reasons, we will give our reaction.

"Gavaskar and Biswal had assured me that the final would not be shifted out of here," he added.

The IPL Governing Council took the decision, after its meeting in Mumbai, stating that they want to spread the games around the country.

Gavaskar, who is in charge of the IPL, participated in the meeting through video conference.

"Considering that 20 matches of the ongoing Pepsi IPL season were played overseas, the GC took a decision to try and take the play-offs to as many different stadia as possible. Several venues had expressed their interest in hosting the Playoffs," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said, in a media statement.