Positive about fourth Test happening at Feroz Shah Kotla: DDCA president
The DDCA on Friday said it is hopeful of hosting the fourth and final India-South Africa Test in New Delhi and has the backing of the state government, a day after the Bishan Singh Bedi-led dissident faction cast aspersions over the cricket body’s ability to stage the match.
“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,” DDCA President Sneh Prakash Bansal told PTI.
Earlier, Bedi alongwith many former Delhi cricketers had met Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking his intervention to address the issue of rampant corruption in DDCA and its inability to host the fourth and final match against South Africa starting December 3.
Bansal though asserted that Bedi and company have painted a wrong picture in front of Kejriwal.
The Delhi CM had formed a three-member committee to probe complaints of financial irregularities and wrong doings in the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association and a report is expected by November 15.
“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 governments court as it has promised to revert back as soon.
“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 (Saturday),” he said.
The DDCA was under pressure after BCCI kept Pune as a back-up venue and the state government directed the state body to pay Rs 24.45 crore in entertainment taxes. But Bansal insisted that the match is on.
“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,” Bansal said.
The entertainment tax is said to have been unpaid since 2012 but the government may accept the DDCA’s request for a tax waiver.
