Can’t host SA T20 warm-up match: DDCA informs BCCI

New Delhi: According to a report in DNA, Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India of its its inability to host the South Africa's warm-up T20 match at the Ferozeshah Kotla.

The reason given to BCCI by DDCA senior vice-president and former India opener Chetan Chauhan is to do with difficulties in obtaining clearances from government agencies.

“The DDCA League was over in June. The ground was to be handed over to the curator right away. But it was handed over to us in the second half of August,” a groundsman said.

The fourth and final Test too is scheduled to be played at the Kotla from December 3-7.

“The DDCA is, perhaps, doing all it can to not host the Test match. The lack of governmental clearances will certainly come in handy at that time to cite as an excuse,” said a senior official.

“Firstly, I was not sure about the Kotla wicket as this involved an international team like South Africa. Secondly, everyone knows that we’ve some controversy (read corruption issues) going on within our organisation (DDCA) which is hampering some of the work at the Kotla.

Thirdly, and most importantly, was that we need various permissions from NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Corporation) and MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) before hosting any international matches.

We have time on our hands. The Test match is two months away and I am hopeful that we will procure the required permissions by then,” Chauhan told DNA.