Shukla: BCCI committed to farmers' welfare

"The IPL and BCCI are committed to the welfare of the farmers. We will do whatever is suggested to us. We will cooperate with whatever is told to us," IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla has said, as uncertainty prevailed over the fate of IPL matches in drought-hit Maharashtra.

Rajeev Shukla dismissed the notion that IPL was 'only entertainment'.

With uncertainly prevailing over the fate of IPL matches in drought-hit Maharashtra, IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla on Friday said they are committed to the welfare of the farmers and will do whatever is suggested to them. Responding to a PIL which wants all the IPL matches to be moved out of Maharashtra, a state facing acute water shortage, the Bombay High Court had given a go-ahead to at least to the tournament opener on Saturday.

Speaking at the opening ceremony for the ninth edition of the hugely-popular league, Shukla said, “The IPL and BCCI are committed to the welfare of the farmers. We will do whatever is suggested to us. We will cooperate with whatever is told to us.”

Three cities in the state — Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur — are scheduled to host 19 matches in total this edition. Shukla further said the perception of IPL being an entertainment show was wrong.

'Not just entertainment'

“Whatever people may see, I still believe that IPL is serious cricket. It’s not just entertainment. Most of the games finish in the last over. Lot many budding talent are discovered by IPL, the world has seen that. This edition will be a better one than the previous editions. IPL is growing every year,” he avowed.

The IPL Chairman also said they have made conscious efforts to involve fans in the game by introducing a new feature in which the fans will be given placards to express their views on certain decisions referred to the third umpire.