Ratnakar Shetty to challenge 5-year ban in court

The Mumbai Cricket Association on Tuesday banned BCCI’s general manager for game development Ratnakar Shetty for five years for apparently hinting at black-marketing of tickets, on the part of an MCA office bearer, for the India-Pakistan T20 match in Ahmedabad on March 22.

Shetty has decided to challenge the decision and will move court. The veteran administrator told dna,”As a member, I’ve all the rights to ask the MCA. And the members have the rights to know how the funds were used, where did the tickets go, and who bought them. I have done nothing wrong. I’ve never accused any office bearer of marketing.

Instead, I asked what happened to the tickets and what if they had been black marketed? If they want to ban me, it’s fine. It is their decision. I will challenge it legally and within the association.”

Shetty added, “The MCA accused me of tarnishing the association’s name but it was they who called the media in the AGM. I didn’t go to the media. This is a personal vendetta by people who want to make sure I do not contest the next elections.”

The ban means Shetty cannot contest election nor can he represent Wilson Gymkhana as a voter.