08 February,2009 06:12 AM IST | | Hemal Ashar
THE Cricket Club of India (CCI) has called an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on February 27, at the club premises. The club wishes to win, by vote, the approval of its members to hold Indian Premier League (IPL) matches for April-May 2009. The club's circular states that it has been approached by the BCCI for the use of the Brabourne Stadium for IPL matches this year. The Wankhede Stadium is under renovation.
Cricket, holy cricket
The EGM has been called as the elite Churchgate club seeks the members' vote to authorise the executive committee to negotiate and finalise with the BCCI or other cricket bodies suitable terms for holding IPL T20 matches including its final in April-May 2009, at the club and similar other cricket matches at the club.
Sacrifice please
The approval of the member base is sought as holding an event of the magnitude of the IPL would entail some amount of sacrifice and inconvenience to members for a short while. The parking at the club would definitely be affected. Then, members who use the Brabourne for other activities like walking and jogging may be affected, as the ground would have to be match ready. Given tight security measures, entire use of the club would be affected.
Clubhouse rock
The club's circular also says that the IPL has requested exclusive use of the clubhouse for their invitees, guests and cricket officials for a limited duration before, during and after match days. In exchange, they have offered the club substantial seating in the stands of the stadium.
Promote the game
Members are being urged to vote positively as the club said that hosting such matches would boost the prestige and reputation of the club. The club's circular actually tells members to keep in mind the primary objective of the CCI to promote cricket.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Grab the chance, guys
The CCI had lost out on the opportunity to host matches of the IPL in its first mega debut season because at that time too, the IPL had demanded use of the clubhouse for its invitees. The matches were then split between the Wankhede Stadium and D Y Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai. This time, it looks like CCI, which is celebrating 75 years, is keen to grab the opportunity to host this mix of glamour, greenbacks, star power and lusty big-hitting cricket.
