MLAs get into pitch battle with KSCA

A group of MLAs has jumped into the ongoing battle against the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) involving tickets for IPL matches.

On Monday, MLAs PM Ashok, CC Patil and NL Narendra Babu, in a joint press conference, alleged that gross irregularities had been committed in the distribution of 8,000 tickets for the IPL matches and demanded a probe into it.

The legislators also wanted the government to supersede KSCA’s administration board and appoint an administrator to run the institution.

Denying reports about legislators and corporators demanding free passes, Ashok said the state government had provided a huge tract of land to the KSCA for building the stadium; this largesse, Ashok argued, entitled legislators for honorary passes. Such a system of issuing honorary passes to legislators existed in various states, he contended. “We are ready pay for the tickets. But the KSCA should explain how it had distributed or sold 8,000 tickets and got or purchased those tickets.”

Ashok said KSCA president Anil Kumble had assured more transparency in the sale of tickets after the lathicharge on cricket fans outside Chinnaswamy Stadium and the furore over alleged irregularities in the sale of tickets during the last World Cup match in February 2011. However, the KSCA hasn’t walked the talk, said Ashok.