No IPL matches in Maharashtra in May: Bombay HC

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday disallowed IPL matches after April 30 in Maharashtra. The order came against the backdrop of allegations that the cricket extravaganza would further aggravate the situation in the drought-hit state as huge amounts of water is used on grounds.

The court, however, allowed the Board of Control For Cricket in India (BCCI) to continue with the matches scheduled until April 30. If the BCCI does not challenge the order, it will have to shift 13 IPL matches, including the final at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium on May 29, elsewhere.

The court verdict came in response to a petition filed by an NGO which claimed that as much as 60 lakh litres of water would be used for maintaining the grounds in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur.

Earlier, the BCCI had informed the court that it would use water from its sewage treatment plant for pitches.