NEW DELHI, Oct 25: Delhi High Court on Saturday virtually rejected Ajay Jadeja’s plea for permission to take part in an international cricket tournament in Hong Kong next month even as it issued a notice to BCCI on the all-rounder’s application.

A division bench of Justice B A Khan and Justice B D Ahmed declined to grant him permission to participate in super sixes tournament beginning on Nov 1 in Hong Kong.

However, the court issued a notice to BCCI on Jadeja’s application seeking its reply by Dec 3.

BCCI counsel Kapil Sibal opposed Jadeja’s plea on the ground that it would amount to lifting ban imposed on the cricketer in the wake of allegation of match-fixing against him.

He stated that Justice J.K. Mehra award setting aside five-year ban imposed on Jadeja has been challenged and was pending before a single judge bench of Justice Manmohan Sarin.

Meanwhile, May 28 interim order allowing Jadeja to play all domestic cricket matches would continue, it said.

The court allowed Jadeja to play in domestic cricket as objections to the award might take undue time to be decided rendering him unfit for any form of national and international cricket.

BCCI challenged Justice J K Mehra award on April 25, just two days before it was to become binding. Jan 27 award would have become final on April 27 on expiry of 90-day statutory period, had it gone unchallenged.—PPI