Online ticket sale for 4th India-England Test from Friday

Mumbai: Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) will start its online sale of tickets for fans for the December 8-12 fourth and penultimate Test between India and England, to be played at the Wankhede Stadium here, from Friday.

The sale of tickets to its member-clubs has not evoked encouraging response, according to MCA sources, who said the association has asked its affiliates to buy tickets through cheque payment.

The demonetisation drive of the Central Government seems to have affected ticket sales too, they said.

As many as 500 schoolchildren will be admitted free of charge into the Vijay Merchant stand on the west side of the stadium in South Mumbai.

"We will be selling tickets in phases," the sources said.

Meanwhile, MCA Managing Committee headed by President Sharad Pawar is to meet on November 27 to discuss preparations for the Test match as well as the letter received from the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha Committee.

The letter has stated that the resolution adopted by the MCA at its November 7 SGM "unanimously" to approach the SC to reconsider its order of "one state, one vote", based on the Lodha panel recommendations, amounted to contempt of the court judgement on the matter.

"It's hereby resolved that the recommentation of the Justice Lodha committee on one state, one vote is unfair to the Mumbai Cricket Association and affect its existence in spite of its outstanding contribution to the game of cricket," the general body's resolution adopted at its SGM stated.

"It is further resolved that BCCI should protect the interest of the MCA and take up the matter with the Justice Lodha Committee and, if required, with the Supreme Court for reconsideration," the resolution further stated.

In its reply, the Lodha panel said the MCA had approached the Supreme Court to intervene on the matter based on the same arguments after which the apex court had given the order.

"The resolution at the SGM amounts to contempt of judgement of the Supreme Court," the Lodha panel has said.