‘DDCA entitled to Rs 2.5 crore from BCCI’
Justice (retd) Mukul Mudgal has informed the Delhi High Court that the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is entitled to at least Rs 2.50 crore from the BCCI for hosting the India-South Africa fourth Test at Ferozshah Kotla in December.
In his second report on the functioning of the DDCA and its finances, the retired judge who was appointed observer for the Test following allegations of corruption within the DDCA, claimed the accounts can be finalised only after the BCCI releases the funds. The DDCA’s accounts “cannot be finalized unless the BCCI releases the grant to DDCA or announces the exact amount which DDCA is entitled to for the said match,” Mudgal told the court.
According to the report submitted before the bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vibhu Bakhru, the DDCA was “entitled to more than Rs 2.50 crore as additional payment in addition to the media rights share from the BCCI for hosting the Test Match.”
Mudgal’s report, submitted through advocate Nitin Mishra, also suggested a “blueprint” to be followed by the DDCA for future matches, emphasising the work that needs to be done by every committee “well in advance”. Mudgal also suggested that the supervisory committee to oversee all future matches should not have more than three members, and should be authorised to sign all contracts.
The report also suggested that complimentary passes given to committee members should be “reasonable”, and that they should be given to families of players as well as former players who have represented India as well as Delhi in various age groups.
To increase the profitability of corporate boxes, Justice Mudgal said the scheme of leasing them on 10-year contracts should be continued “as this would fetch considerable revenue surplus for DDCA and augment the financial strength of the DDCA.”
The report added: “A long term arrangement should be preferred over tendering for each match as a long term arrangement will ensure that enough revenue is earned to compensate for loss of revenue in the less lucrative and less popular matches where the boxes may not be taken.”
The high court, meanwhile, has adjourned the hearing in the dispute between DDCA and South Delhi Municipal Corporation to February 22.
Daredevils want talks
GMR Sports Private limited, owners of IPL team Delhi Daredevils, have requested the BCCI for a tripartite meeting with DDCA in order to get a clearer picture about their home matches at the Kotla. “With uncertainty on the future of World T20 matches at the Kotla, the GMR officials are worried. They want a dialogue with us but in presence of BCCI top officials. They want a concrete picture of what is happening regarding the IPL matches,” a DDCA official said.
