DDCA seeks one-day deadline extension from BCCI

DDCA has failed to meet the November 17 deadline.

New Delhi: The uncertainty over the venue for the fourth and final cricket Test between India and South Africa continued with DDCA on Tuesday seeking a one-day extension of the deadline set by BCCI for obtaining all clearances by the state association.

The Delhi and District Cricket Administration moved High Court on Tuesday with a plea seeking a direction to South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) over issuing a provisional occupancy certificate (POC) to hold the international match at Ferozshah Kotla stadium.

While the match is scheduled to be held from December 3 to December 7, DDCA has sought POC from December 1 to 10. The matter though will be up for hearing again tomorrow after the court was adjourned and hence DDCA failed to meet the November 17 deadline.

DDCA vice president Chetan Chauhan is still trying his level best to host the match, which may go to Pune -- a venue that has been kept as a back-up option by the BCCI.

"I know the deadline was till today, but the hearing in the court got extended till tomorrow. These are things which are not in our hands. We have requested BCCI to extend the deadline till tomorrow," Chauhan told reporters here.

The bone of contention though remains the Rs 24.45 crore in entertainment tax slapped by the government on the state body.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had formed a three-member committee to probe complaints of financial irregularities and wrong-doings in the state association and did come out with a report on Tuesday.

The panel report recommended that the BCCI should suspend DDCA and a commission of inquiry should probe the alleged irregularities in the body. Chauhan said the association has not got the required support from the government.

"We have not got the support that we were expecting from the government regarding the tax matter. There are so many industries and shops that have not payed their tax, but are they shutting them down. Adequate time is given, right. DDCA is a non-profit maing body," said a disappointed Chauhan.

"The probe committee formed by the government only delayed matters for us as they entangled us in all other issues which were not related to the hosting of the match. So I believe that Delhi government is responsible to a great extent if the match does not happen," the former cricketer said.

The Bishan Singh Bedi-led dissident faction had also met Kejriwal regarding the alleged rampant corruption in DDCA and cast aspersions over the cricket body's ability to stage the match. Chauhan though stayed away from any controversy.

"There is politics everywhere. There are always two groups in an association, there are people from outside who create something, but I don't want to get int o all this. We don't want to come into controversy. I am the last person to create a controversy," he said.

"A Test match is a Test match, it is an international event. People go out of their way to help organise an international game. We are keen that the international game takes place here. It is called the Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela Trophy and Delhi being the capital we want the match to be played here," he added.

Former Indian cricketer Kirti Azad also told Delhi High Court that DDCA should not be allowed to hold the match alleging that the cricketing body was an "illegal squatter".

Chauhan once again stayed away from a verbal duel.

"He has been speaking against the association. Now he got an opportunity in court so he spoke. But I don't want to speak anything against him because he is my colleague," he said.

BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur had mentioned that DDCA could lose on World T20 games if the final Test does not happen. Chauhan also fears repercussion if they lose the international match.

"There can be repercussions of losing a game. I am not sure, but yes, there can be. I don't know what BCCI has in my mind. I can always keep requesting them to be sympathetic towards us.

"We had problems in the association and we are trying.

Very serious things had happened and corrective measures are being taken. But when you take corrective measures that also has a repercussion," he said.

Delhi skipper Gautam Gambhir was also quoted as saying that "If we win the Ranji Trophy, it will be a slap on DDCA's face" and Chauhan said that the captain's word, if spoken, were uncalled for.

"How he can he talk like this? If he has that much of problem then why is he playing for Delhi? He should move out if this is what he has said? But I am sure that he met Kejriwal on another issue and all these things got mixed," he said.