DDCA members appear before panel, Sneh Prakash Bansal positive Delhi Test

New Delhi: Even as its president Sneh Prakash Bansal expressed optimism of hosting the final Test between India and South Africa here, 13 members of the DDCA appeared before a three-member probe committee which pointed out lapses including complaints of favoritism in selection of players at different levels by the state cricket body.

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is under pressure after BCCI kept Pune as a back-up venue and the state government directed the state cricket body to pay Rs 24.45 crore in entertainment taxes. But Bansal insisted that the match is on.

"We are very positive about the match happening at the Feroz Shah Kotla. We have got the backing of the government as well and are confident of making the November 17 deadline set by the BCCI," Bansal told PTI.

"Look, all this has been happening for the last five years. We are working towards our goals of getting things in order and we are very positive that things will be sorted out in time," he added.

While Bansal exuded confidence, DDCA vice-president Chetan Chauhan and other board members appeared before the probe committee headed by Principal Secretary (Vigilance Department) Chetan Sanghi.

"In the meeting, the Committee pointed out the issue of DDCA facing multiple probes from different agencies of Central government - CBI, SFIO, Registrars of Companies (ROC).

"Besides, there are also four police complaints against the cricket body and it has not been able to get even competition certificate and structural safety certificate for the stadium from MCD," sources said.

Former India captain Bishen Singh Bedi alongwith many former Delhi cricketers had met Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal yesterday, seeking his intervention in "cleaning up" DDCA.

Yesterday, the AAP government appointed a three-member committee to probe allegations of corruption in it and asked the panel to submit the findings by November 14.

"Committee has also sought to know what the DDCA officials are doing for promotion of cricket in the capital when all these agencies of Centre are probing them and thus they are bringing a bad name to Delhi," sources said.

Sources said that the probe committee slammed DDCA

officials for painting wrong picture that if the cricket body gets exemption from paying Rs 24 crore as entertainment tax to the government, the fourth Test will be held which is not true.

Bansal also said that Bedi and company had painted a wrong picture in front of Kejriwal.

"I have the highest regards for Mr. Bedi. I don't want to speak anything against him. But I believe they have presented the wrong picture in front of the Delhi CM.

"Our delegation met the Kejriwal-appointed probe committee yesterday and today again and tried to clear their doubts and place our side of the story in front of them. I believe that they are satisfied with what we had to explain," Bansal said.

Bansal said that the ball is now in the government's court as it has promised to revert back as soon as possible.

"They said that they will revert back and also told us that some officials are going to meet BCCI President Shashank Manohar in Nagpur tomorrow," he said.

Meanwhile, sources also said that the panel also raised complaints of favoritism in selection at different levels, including Under-15 and 19 cricket teams.

The appointment of the probe committee came as the DDCA was grappling with meeting the November 17 deadline set by BCCI to get all required clearances from authorities concerned to host the fourth and final Test match between India and South Africa scheduled between for December 3 to 7.

"The future of fourth South Africa-India match scheduled to be held at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium will depend on the report of the three-member committee and responses what the board members of DDCA gave to questions put by the probe panel today," sources added.

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir had yesterday met Kejriwal and discussed a range of issues including the functioning of DDCA.