DDCA league hit by ‘fund’ crunch

DDCA treasurer Ravinder Manchanda says money is not a problem but questions why clubs which have come under the scanner, in a report submitted by a high court appointed two-member panel of retired judges, are being allowed to participate. “Irregularities of certain clubs have been highlighted in the report but these teams have been allowed to participate. This should not be done,” Manchanda said.

The DDCA treasurer also wants the sports working committee to be more transparent.

“We have the money (to conduct the league) but we need to follow a system. We have told sports committee to present a proper budget. If they do that we are ready to issue cheques,” Manchanda said.

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The league commenced in January after a four-month delay, the fixtures calendar has been truncated with clubs playing nine games instead of 14, pending dues for ground rent has resulted in only three city venues agreeing to host games. As a result only 51 matches have been played instead of an average of 400 by the second month of the year.

Agarwal spells out the issues which are affecting the smooth operation of the league.

“We need funds. No ground is ready to hosts a match on credit. We have not paid the grounds since March last year. Mohan Meakin did allow us to host us some games this season but even they are refusing now because we could not guarantee payment. We cannot call this a league. We should have played at least 400-500 matches, but have only played 51 matches till date,” Agarwal said.

“The association has all the money for court cases, ground renovation but when it comes to league cricket, they are not ready to provide us funds,” Agarwal added.

The Cricketer’s Association of Delhi, one of the bodies which represents clubs, has written to the Indian cricket board secretary Anurag Thakur seeking his intervention. In the letter accessed by The Indian Express, Dr Ahmed Tameem (CAD, secretary) has urged Thakur to “initiate necessary corrective measures.”

“The prestigious DDCA league for 2015-16 has just commenced in January, 2016 with reduced number of matches (from 14 to 9 for every affiliated club), whereas in 2014-15 the league commenced as early as September, 2014. The clubs are demotivated by the utter lack of cricketing atmosphere,” the letter states.

Moreover, the clubs are yet to receive their annual subsidy. “Club subsidy of last three years was pending. We got for one year and are yet to receive for two more years — which is Rs 1,60,000 for both the years. Only private academies are functional in Delhi, clubs are finding it difficult to sustain. We have requested the association so many times but the only reply we get is ‘there is no money with the association’.”