'Cellar kitchen' haunts Mumbai Cricket Association officials

Not for the first time, the BCCI has ignored the principle of transparency.

Rumours are flying thick and fast that a playoff match — Qualifier 2, to be played on May 30 — has been shifted from the Wankhede Stadium to the Brabourne Stadium. There is also talk that the Wankhede is set to lose out on the IPL final, on June 2, to Bangalore's Chinnaswamy Stadium.

According to a member of the IPL governing council, several BCCI officials were "ill-treated" by the Mumbai Police ahead of Saturday's game between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab. "Officials, including Sunil Gavaskar, were denied parking. And there is a feeling that this was done deliberately. There are several other issues too. One of the kitchens is located in a cellar. What if a gas cylinder explodes?" the official reasoned.

Mumbai Cricket Association officials were left flummoxed. "We haven't heard anything from anybody in the BCCI. First of all, there was no confusion as far as the parking slots were confirmed. Secondly, there is no such 'underground' kitchen at the stadium," an MCA official said. "Also, I just spoke to IPL chairman Ranjib Biswal as well as BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel. Both of them said there was no truth in these media reports," the official added.

A few days ago, Gavaskar and other officials spoke of the BCCI's desire to reach out to the media. So far, there hasn't been any clarification. Even the Mumbai Indians have kept mum. In fact, by virtue of being champions, their home ground (Wankhede) has earned the right to host the final. Who's kidding whom?