The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday sent an SOS to the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA), asking it to explain if the final Test between India and South Africa can be held in the national Capital following the Central Bureau of Investigation opening a probe into corruption cases.
This has come hours after dna reported that Delhi will find it tough to host Test since the president of DDCA, Sneh Bansal, has come under CBI scanner for round-tripping money to the tune of Rs 1.55 crore into his company accounts. A senior BCCI official on condition of anonymity told this paper that "given the circumstances and the division with in DDCA on holding Test, it could just be a matter of time before it could be shifted to other venue".
"We've been getting complaints about corruption in DDCA for a long time. Since it was an internal matter of the DDCA, it was left to the state association to come clean. But with CBI now entering the scene, it looks as if there is something more than what meets the eye," said a BCCI senior official reacting to dna's report published on Tuesday.
DDCA president also admitted that the BCCI has enquired about the status of hosting Test in the first week of December. "BCCI has asked us about our preparation to host the match. If the DDCA realises that it is unable to host the match, we will inform the BCCI well in advance about it so that they can take an appropriate call into the matter," said Bansal.
Former India captain and legendary spinner Bishan Singh Bedi has, meanwhile, also called upon BCCI to take away the Test match and allot it to some other venue till uncertainty is prevailing in Delhi's cricket. While he felt sorry for the Delhi public, who he felt would be deprived off high-class cricket, he lamented the dubious and shameless role of DDCA office-bearers who have only brought shame to Delhiites and to cricket year after year.
Bansal hinted that a lot will depend on the line of investigation in the coming days. "As of now, we are confident of hosting it but you need to understand that a lot will depend on how this enquiry shapes up in the coming days," added Bansal, who himself will have to answer CBI's questions on money trail.
Meanwhile, CBI has sent a 20-point questionnaire to the DDCA asking it to submit attested copies of documents/ information for the period 2008-13. CBI's main focus also has been on the renovation of Ferozeshah Kotla, for which a whopping amount of over Rs 140 crore have been spent till date.
"Look at the kind of stadium which Delhi has built at a cost of nearly Rs 140 crore and then compare it with stadiums around any other part of India built at nearly one-fourth or even less cost. You will get the answer yourself without digging deep into the facts. This is the most unfriendly stadium for any class of spectators. Last year, Pakistani greats were here and they exclaimed that they have not seen a worse stadium in the world than this," said DDCA senior member Sameer Bahadur," adding: "Alas, what can one expect from people who have no connection or interest in cricket?".
On the other hand, Delhi government's notice to pay a whopping amount of Rs 24 crore as entertainment tax has also reached DDCA. "This is what Delhi government has demanded. It's our committee which has to see how far this demand is correct. We will look into the matter. We have received the 20 questions from the CBI and we will submit the details to the agency," admitted Bansal.
