#IndvsSA: Cricket to be worst hit if DDCA loses Test
If you are a cricket fan in Delhi, waiting eagerly to witness a match between two powerhouses of the sport in a few days' time, what follows would be a pretty distressing piece of news. A probe panel appointed by the Delhi government has recommended the suspension of the DDCA (Delhi and District Cricket Association) on the ground of alleged financial irregularities. This jeopardises the prospect of the Ferozeshah Kotla hosting the fourth and final Test between India and South Africa. Apparently, the DDCA has to pay entertainment tax in excess of Rs 24 crore to get the nod for hosting the match.
One would perhaps agree that this was expected of the current dispensation in Delhi. The Delhi government, we all know, is led by that self-proclaimed protector of our morality, Arvind Kejriwal, and where he sniffs even the faintest stench of corruption, he is known to raise an almighty hue and cry. Given that Kejriwal is a person who, at least publicly, gives the impression that he is serious about clamping down on corruption at all levels, and particularly considering that he was at the forefront of the Jan Lokpal movement to bring about accountability in administration, it was not unusual that his government would take such a step.
With the Delhi government entering the fray so spectacularly the issue has come to attain a distinct political overtone. One fears that the DDCA may now try to find a way out of this mess through the backdoor, and that would invariably entail more corruption.
However, if the Test is indeed shifted out of Delhi, the biggest losers would be the cricket-lovers of Delhi, many of may have bought their tickets. But more than the tickets, it would mean that the fans would be deprived of an opportunity to see the AB De Villiers, Virat Kohlis and Hashim Amlas of the world in action. That would be a bigger loss. Also, as pointed out by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) honorary secretary Anurag Thakur, the Ferozeshah Kotla may lose the opportunity to host the ICC World T20 next year it it fails to host the India-South Africa Test. It would surely be a body blow for the DDCA and Indian cricket as whole if the showpiece event is taken away. If that happens, indeed cricket in the country could be hit so badly that it may take some time to recover from such a severe loss of credibility.
For the Indian fans, however, such an embarrassment is not new. The historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata - one of the premier stadia of the world - was stripped of the opportunity to host the big India-England match during World Cup 2011, as the stadia, which was under renovation could not satisfy the team of ICC inspectors that it was ready for the marquee clash. What the fans of Kolakta were left with were inconsequential and drab affairs involving, among others, the minnows of world cricket - Ireland, Kenya and Zimbabwe. It was unfortunate that it was happening to the Eden Gardens. It had been witness to many a memorable contest over the years from the World Cup final in 1987, the first match that South Africa played after its return to world cricket, the Hero Cup final in 1993, the World Cup semifinal in 1996 and the epic India-Australia Test in 2001, to name only a few. It was a serious setback to the aura of the Eden and indeed the pride of the country. The match which was shifted to Bangalore and went right down to the wire. Both teams scored over 300 runs and the match ended in a tie. Had the match been held in Kolkata, the result might have been different, but what is beyond doubt is that the fans of Kolkata were deprived a chance to enjoy a humdinger of a contest, and for no fault of theirs. They had every right to feel cheated. They paid the price for the mismanagement by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).
The Delhi probe panel's recommendation that the affairs of sports bodies like the DDCA be brought under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act makes sense. This could go a long way in fixing accountability in the country's sports bodies, the affairs of many of which have been known to be shady.
The panel also suggested that the BCCI replace the DDCA by a body of professional cricketers. This recommendation is a positive one, no doubt, but to think that it would a panacea for all ills would be a bit naive. The fact is that even if, let's say former players are given the charge of administration, they may not have a free hand. Indeed the former Indian Test captain and legendary spinner Anil Kumble, and his long-time India teammate Javagal Srinath, who had been given prominent positions in the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) have not had an entirely fond experience.
The DDCA has now approached the high court for an interim permission to host the India-South Africa Test which is to start from December 3. Every lover of the sport in the country would hope that the Ferozeshah Kotla doesn't end up losing the "Test", literally and metaphorically.