Deadline looms, Delhi may lose next month’s Sri Lanka T20

There is little chance that the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) would host the India-Sri Lanka T20I fixture at the Feroz Shah Kotla on February 12 as the association has less than 24 hours to meet the deadline set by BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur.

DDCA working president Chetan Chauhan did buy the association some time by requesting Thakur to move the deadline to Thursday evening but nothing has happened in the time. The status remains where it was when Thakur met the DDCA officials last Saturday. “We got a mail from Anurag Thakur today (Wednesday) that we need to submit all the permissions by 5 pm on Thursday otherwise the match would move,” informed DDCA treasurer Ravinder Manchanda.

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As of now, DDCA is yet to get hold of any permission/clearance and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) hurdle still stands in their way. With little time and plenty of permissions left, the international fixture seems set to move to one of the three shortlisted venues – Ranchi, Uttar Pradesh or Hyderabad. The BCCI, unlike last few occasions, is in no mood to showcase any leniency with DDCA this time around and are waiting for a written statement from the association.

DDCA did attempt last throw of the dice Tuesday evening by announcing their intention to move High Court to expedite the process but the move didn’t materialise. “We were going to move Court but the documents were not ready yet. If all goes fine, we will move court Thursday,” says Manchanda.

The routine permissions shouldn’t pose any problem but clearances from the from the Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and no-objection certificate from Land and Development Office (L&DO) for the completion certificate from the SDMC is not expected to materialise overnight.

“We know it will take time to get all these clearances but even if we get from one of the departments we can request the board that we are looking for a one-time solution and that’s why it’s taking time. We are also moving Court for the same and are in regular touch with all departments for the same. Even if we get one of the clearances, we would try to convince the board,” says Manchanda.

It remains to be seen whether DDCA would make any additions to their permissions tally standing at nil as of now.