The DDCA on Friday said it is hopeful of hosting the fourth and final India-South Africa Test here 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 along with 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 Mr. Kejriwal.
The Delhi Chief Minister had formed a three-member committee to probe complaints of financial irregularities and wrongdoings 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 Chief Minister. Our officials also met the Kejriwal-appointed probe committee members and will do so again and let me assure everybody that the government has backed us,” Bansal said.
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.
