By IANS,
Kolkata : The cash-rich Indian Premier League’s chairman Lalit Modi Sunday accused authorities in Jaipur of harassing the Rajasthan Royals officials as well as the league organisers.
“My team and RR (Rajasthan Royals) officials (were) harassed by state officials. Is this the way to hold matches in a state? That is why I have boycotted Jaipur matches.” Thus wrote an annoyed Modi on social networking site Twitter.
Following a dispute with the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC), the Rajasthan Royals (RR) were forced to move their makeshift office from the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, which is the property of the RSSC, to the pavilion of the Rajasthan Cricket Association’s (RCA) cricket academy Saturday.
The organisers of the match, IMG, also relocated their office from West block of the stadium to hotel Rajputana Sheraton after some RCA-appointed private security guards allegedly misbehaved with RSSC officials. Enraged employees of the sports council then locked the door of the Royals’s office.
“RR officials detained for hours – why? To give more tickets? What are we coming down to? How do we perform – when we are not allowed to?” added Modi who is also the vice-president of the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI).
Modi expressed concern over the issue.
“People in Jaipur – write to me about your experience with the matches this time around.”
“We would like to ask for suggestions – how does one curb black marketing of tickets. We want to find a solution. Please suggest,” he said.
Modi also asked the locals of Jaipur to mail him if they faced problems regarding tickets.
“Please email me on [email protected] if you have been forced to buy tickets in the black market. And at what price.”