Shifting matches not a solution to (Maharashtra) drought: Dhoni

“If you see, all these questions are good to hear, I think for us it’s more important to seek long-term solutions,” said Dhoni when asked about his views about the prevailing drought in Maharashtra, during a media conference, where he was announced as the brand ambassador of Lava mobiles.

The controversy surrounding the water usage for the IPL in Maharashtra came to the fore after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Bombay High Court seeking extra charges on the water used by the IPL for watering pitches. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for Tuesday, but Dhoni believes that a long- term solution is needed to tackle problems like droughts rather than shifting matches.

“Whether IPL’s match number 5, 6 or 7 happens or not, I don’t think it makes much of a difference. But we have to look at a long-term solution… How we ensure water is sent to those areas where there is water shortage.

“From what I have seen on TV quite a few dams are there, where only one or two per cent water is left. So we have to look at a long-term solution,” Dhoni said, reported PTI.

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“I think people talking about whether matches should happen or not, it’s more momentarily driven than anything else. I think what’s important for us as a county is to see what the long-term solution is and we have to move in that direction,” said the wicketkeeper-batsman.

Rising Pune Supergiants, captained by Dhoni, are scheduled to play their home matches at the Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium, in Pune. 

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