Relay fast cancelled after Tihara's attempt to bring in Dahiya pushes Jadeja to mentor's role

There is a local saying, “Mere ghantey pe”. It means “I give a damn” or “I don’t care”. What Vinod Tihara & Co have been doing over the last one week proves the phrase true --- trying to fight a decision that came right from the top, some say the finance minister. However, his latest attempt to cock a snook at the Executive Committee’s decision which in reality was the decision of the three government nominees who have, reportedly, themselves been ordained, has fallen flat.

On Tuesday evening, the Ferozeshah Kotla was abuzz with the sound of hammer pounding the nails into the ground and the setting up of a shamiana for members of the Tihara group, who had threatened to sit on a relay fast.

For some odd reason they called off the fast after having hyped up the threat to enormous levels. What transpired behind the doors is still shrouded in mist, but the group says they have been given assurances by the senior officials. In a whatsapp message Ashok Katyal circulated to all his friends, it was mentioned that some sort of assurance has been given to them.

To start with, Tuesday morning saw police at the Kotla doors even as the nets continued. This was probably because a brawl had taken place on Monday evening over the U-19 players on trial. Gautam Gambhir was there at RAnji nets on Tuesday morning and barely interacted with Ajay Jadeja. You see Gambhir is hell bent on bringing back his Kolkata Knight Riders coach Vijay Dahiya, who was Delhi coach last year. He had asked the executive about the role being assigned to Dahiya after they’d made Jadeja the coach.  

The executive, with orders from the top bosses, had appointed Jadeja and the sports committee’s six members of the Tihara group decided to challenge it first. Then they tried to accommodate their men with the executive committee’s appointees.

The list had a different role for Jadeja. He was made the mentor and Dahiya the chief coach. Basically, it was meant to be like: Jadeja you just mentor whatever players we provide you with! You don’t have a say in picking teams. Two more selectors came in to the addition of the three already appointed by the executive committee for the senior selection panel. Then, there was a set of five selectors for each of the age groups and it seems that all of DDCA’s guys had been accommodated. These are things that make DDCA really an amazing body.  

If the executive budges then there’ll be a problem and Tihara & Co would like everyone to believe that they have managed to bend the executive.

But have they? One reason doing the rounds for the postponement of the relay fast is that none of the people behind it turned up. There is police at the gate constantly for the past two days (Tuesday and Wednesday mornings), so it would have resulted in a big problem. That they had set the tent within 200 metres of Kotla is in itself illegal and the police could have evacuated them anytime. So Padam Chauhan, a Tihara sidekick, who had grandly announced this relay fast protest, himself didn’t turn up.

And the meeting that was supposed to be held on Tuesday evening that was to announce the new set of selectors and coaching staff, where even the President Sneh Bansal was present never took place with the leader of the faction Vinod Tihara excusing himself and going home.

By the way, joint secretary Anil Jain and Maqsood Karim were told to leave the nets on Tuesday and Gautam Vadhera, a member of the newly elected member of the sports committee and part of the anti-Tihara camp, was there handling the affairs. “They (Anil Jain and Maqsood Karim) were unauthorised to attend these nets,” he said. Both Maqsood, who was caught flicking peanuts from a dressing room during the last Ranji season and was banished from the dressing room area, and Anil Jain are part of the Tihara camp.

Anyway there is still doubt over the fact whether these two guys will get the money or not. Chetan Chauhan has refused to honour the payment (1800 rupees per day is what Anil Jain will claim for attending the nets), saying that these guys were unauthorised.

The protest shamiana being set up on the order of Tihara & Co
on  Tuesday evening

Brawl in U-19 camp, fledgling sports committee announces hunger strike

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) had declared Monday as an off day out of respect for Jagmohan Dalmiya, the BCCI president who had passed away on Sunday night. Then there were heavy rains that lashed the city in the evening, so much so that the traffic at ITO bridge was chock-a-block and going anywhere near the Ferozeshah Kotla would have meant testing your patience. But then these days DDCA is so abuzz with activities and happenings, there is so much of unpredictability, so much at stake that even Monday had officials strolling around, picking up fights and having animated discussions.

The morning had gone off well, with the Ranji squad observing 2-minute silence in Dalmiya’s memory. Then skipper Gautam Gambhir and new coach Ajay Jadeja seemingly struck off well, despite the apparent differences. The selectors, Vinay Lamba, Rahul Sanghvi and Hari Gidwani were there. All of these guys obviously left all the differences and shenanigans to the officials.

The evening, with the Under-19 camp, however came with a rush of blood. Naresh Sharma ‘Tappu’, member of the sports working committee and an aide of Vinod Tihara, rammed into Nikhil Chopra, Sunil Valson and Suresh Luthra, the three junior selectors appointed by the executive committee. This was just a trailor of what is yet to come due to the fight between the sports committee and the executive, and it looked pretty ugly while it lasted. There were well over 100-125 kids even though the selectors had given a list of 78 kids. So many kids meant that kids from Anil Jain’s list of U-19 probables had also walked in. To give you a clear picture, Anil Jain is allied to the sports committee and Tihara. They wanted to push their kids too. The selectors somehow warded off Tappu & Co but so many kids turned it into a fish market, says Pramod Sood, a DDCA member.

Tappu says that they had just requested the selectors to keep two kids each from all clubs in addition to their 78 and give everyone a fair chance. Well, these many more kids would have certainly turned it into a bigger fish market.

And by evening, a press release from Padam Chauhan, a sports working committee member and a sidekick of Tihara, threatened a ‘relay hunger strike’ on September 23. They’ll start the strike at 8 am. Well, honestly it is a pretty lovely proposition – you stay hungry taking turns. First you, then him, then him and it goes on and on. We are pretty sure that some of them must be diabetic and they can’t stay hungry for too long. Hence the relay strike.

Anyway, the seeds of this agitation and quarrel were laid on Sunday itself in a sports committee meeting. The Tihara group had said they’d pick their own set of selectors disregarding the decision taken by the executive committee. “We’ll try to accommodate those appointed by the executive committee too,” Tihara said rather generously. “It is our right to appoint selectors and run cricket not theirs.”

These guys are sticking to their guns even if time seems to be running out. However, in what came as a shock to them, their opposition in the committee, the four guys belonging to CK Khanna-Manchanda-Chetan Chauhan group, don’t seem to be that keen on it. Even after being offered an option to suggest two names each for what could be five-member selection panels in each of the age groups, they issued a press release saying that they are firmly behind the two selection panels, senior and junior, appointed by the executive committee.

The differences may not have arisen had Tihara & Co promised to also give them a proportional representation in the support staff which they had demanded in Sunday’s meeting. Once the promise wasn’t made and the the talk was simply done in thin air, the four issued the press release announcing their decision to back the executive committee. Tihara, used to having his own way with full majority in previous years, is finding it tough now with these four members of the opposition in the panel. Hence, the decision to go on a hunger strike on Wednesday.  

The sports committee had on Sunday planned to meet today, Tuesday (22^nd September) at 11 am to take their fight further and announce their selection panel and importantly bring Vijay Dahiya as coach. Going by what looked like their struggle in the U-19 camp on Monday, they seem to have dropped their shoulders and are taking it forward in agitational style like Aam Aadmi Party. Wonder what new thing will be announced in Tuesday’s meeting and will their four opponents agree to it.

By the way, there is also a finance committee meeting today to discuss a way to re-open the Central Bank account where 6-7 crore rupees is frozen. This is to ensure that cricket is brought back into play and the South Africa Test match is held in Delhi as on schedule. 

Has Sports Working Committee outlived its utility?

So the sports working committee is going to be disbanded. You don’t believe it? Don’t. But the way Friday evening’s meeting went hinted as much. With six people belonging to Vinod Tihara-Sneh Bansal-Sunil Dev faction and four belonging to CK Khanna-Ravindra Manchanda-Chetan Chauhan group, there were bound to be differences.

First, the minority faction wanted to hold it in the bar. But it was turned down by the majority faction and then, when the meeting moved to Sunil Dev’s room, there was massive debate over the choice of convenor. At the end of it all, Tihara came out announcing that he has been made the convenor. The other four wanted a co-convenor from their faction and when this wasn’t accepted and Naresh Sharma ‘Tappu’ of Tihara faction made the co-convenor, they came out upset. The next meeting was slotted for Saturday evening and then when that didn’t materialise, it was set for 1 pm on Sunday, which is today afternoon.

Both Sneh Bansal and Sunil Dev were present in the meeting in that room and it was amazing how heavily the balance was tilted towards the Tihara faction. So an email from Ashok Katyal, a key accomplice of Tihara, was shot to the media saying Tihara is the convenor and Tappu his co-convenor. And what does the media do? Some of it ignores, the other publishes it. You can’t blame the ones who published it. These DDCA guys are masters at deceiving everyone and creating confusion.

The fact of the matter is that the other four didn’t agree and the news had not come on an official letterhead --- just a simple email. Even if it were on a letterhead and DDCA letterheads are easily available – am damn sure even to the vendor selling kulchay outside, there wouldn’t have been any guarantee of any authenticity.  We’ve seen with the three different sets of Ranji squads dispatched last week. All three came out on the letterheads.

So the issue raised in the meeting was that there is no provision for co-convenor or something like that when the four demanded their pound of flesh.  

The four fished out the original copy of the minutes of the emergent committee meeting, held in 1994, that gave birth to the sports working committee and which had all the officials fighting in that meeting. CK Khanna and Sneh Bansal were there and it was held under the chairmanship of KK Mehra. The minutes have no mention or need to have any convenor.  In the words of these guys, all 10 are equal and they can take whatever decision they want to take. Well, you know what we mean. There is always a way of bringing things to a standstill. The practice was to have a convenor and now you don’t have one because there is no provision.

This was a ticking bomb that was bound to explode someday. All this while these fellows went along with the post of convenor, primarily because there was outright majority for one faction or the other. But now that they are divided, these things will happen. And this is just the beginning. “Aagey, aagey dekhiye, hota hai kya?”

In the words of some senior officials, the judges who oversaw the SWC elections, GP Thareja and Babu Lal, are preparing a dossier that’ll embarrass the DDCA more. They may argue to stop or limit the sphere of influence of sports working committee.

The crux of all this was laid by Kirti Azad and his close aide Sameer Bahadur alongwith former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi. They had sent out a list of 18 clubs that had seen a change of ownership over the last 10-12 years. And their transfer (or illegal sale), was not recorded or approved by the executive committee. That means the owners have changed and their votes have tilted in the favour of people who have helped them buy the club.

And then you have the five clubs whose ownership is in dispute. You also have one Mohan Meakins club who has been taken over by Madan Lal but who is not allowed to vote.

So blaming the judges for taking 80-odd days is fine but what the entire process has done is highlighted the problems that the sports working committee has created for itself.

Ravindra Manchanda, the DDCA treasurer, says this (disbanding SWC) should happen anytime soon. He is hopeful that it’ll happen by next week.

In all honesty it should. Why? Because with verdict split, you’ll have lots of compromises and fights. Unless they act as good boys and promise not to fight, which is unlikely, then you allow them to continue. Else, every good thing has its period of utility. After which it should be disbanded. At least Delhi skipper Gautam Gambhir, who was appointed unanimously by all the selectors on Saturday, will have a free mind to play with. He wouldn’t have to budge under the pressure of any official.

September 25 deadline for Delhi Test match, BCCI secy Thakur needs balance sheet and Anil Jain does it again

On Thursday afternoon, Delhi and District Cricket Association’s four officials, CK Khanna, Ravindra Manchanda, Chetan Chauhan and Sunil Dev went to meet BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur at his residence. The three government nominees, Parvesh Verma, Rajan Tewari and Sunil Yadav, who had proposed a committee, were also present. On agenda was procurement of funds for the rest of the season as Delhi begin their domestic cricket.

Thakur ticked them off and asked them whether they’ll be able to host the fourth Test against South Africa. In all probability the Test will be held as the finance minister and the BCCI want it to happen at the Ferozeshah Kotla. However, the BCCI has given them September 25 as the final date to let them know if the Test will be hosted by them or not.

So, all rests on September 25 and what message DDCA sends out to them.

But what ensued in the meeting should put everyone to shame. DDCA president SP Bansal didn’t turn up even when he was called because he was probably too embarrassed to face the BCCI secretary. Bansal’s alleged round-tripping of 1.55 crore rupees is one sore point due to which the balance sheet hadn’t been signed. Last week, some directors hastily signed it. But signing the balance sheet means that the directors are approving of illegality of transaction and no one wants to take that risk. So the balance sheet hasn’t been approved and sent to BCCI and that is why the Board is withholding money.

That much Thakur made clear. Thakur added that he has already sanctioned about 6-7 crore rupees in instalments to run cricket and BCCI can’t keep doing it. “You bring the balance sheet and take the money,” he has reportedly told them.

But will they bring the balance sheet? Another thing discussed was the Central Bank of India account where rupees 6-7 crore of DDCA money has been stored, and which has been sealed after Sunil Dev filed a police complaint.

Manchanda and Sunil Dev had a massive fight on the issue.

So will the account be re-opened? It should be unless DDCA wants to make a mockery of it all.

The DDCA has to pay plenty of dues. They have to pay 4.5 lakh rupees for the SG balls. They also have to pay dues for water and there are pending bills.

Thakur also made it clear that the players’ dues have to be paid if future funding is to be continued and this is where Manchanda gave vent to his fury at Dev.

The news also is that the DDCA officials aren’t too happy with the interference of the government directors. In a letter Pramod Jain, one of the club owners, has written to them saying, “The results of the SWC elections were to be declared today i.e 16th September and with results to be declared within 12 hours, it would be sensible that the panels should be declared after consulting the sports working committee.”

Jain also added that the powers of the sports committee (SWC) is greater than that of the executive committee (EC) and without the concurrence of the SWC, EC cannot assume all powers to run cricket.

The problem with this assumption is that there will be fireworks in the meeting. The SWC is expected to meet later today evening at 5 pm and with Vinod Tihara-Sunil-Dev and Bansal having six members in that and CK Khanna-Chetan Chauhan-Manchanda having four members, there are going to be disagreements, firstly with the panel and then with the players.

Already Joint Secretary (sports) Anil Jain had sent out a list of 76 probables for the Delhi U-19 camp. Salil Seth, who is the convenor of the selection committee for all junior cricket (U-19, U-16 and U-14), was angry. He told Hindustan Times newspaper that this is ridiculous. “We’ll hold a meeting on Saturday and then we will decide and send out the list. Anil Jain is one of the signatories on the resolution that allows us and our selection committee to function.”

Anil Jain says that he did this in the capacity of being the joint secretary sports. “I called all the players to just begin the process. When the selectors come, they can have a look at the players and select from them.”

However, DDCA director Ashok Sharma has lambasted him. As reported by the Hindustan Times, he has made it clear that this is unauthorised as Anil Jain is no one to send out such a list. “This is illegal,” says Ashok Sharma “Mama”. There are fears that he had called his own preferred set of players to the camp, ignoring others and the selectors will be forced to pick players from out of them.   

No breakthrough as clubs sale issue crops up

Friday evening, former cricketers gathered at Ferozeshah Kotla’s non-smoking bar, lamenting what possibly is the slow death of cricket. With not even 10 days left for the domestic season to begin and less than 20 days left for the Ranji season to start, we are witnessing an unprecedented situation. The Ranji camp was hastily announced only on Saturday and it will begin on September 14, which is the coming Monday, not even three weeks before the first game. A look at the players' list shows the many compromises.

At the centre of all situation are the officials, the main culprits whose ego clashes and personal greed has left cricket on crutches. Who wouldn’t have wanted a mighty South African side to play at the Kotla in a T20 warm-up tie. Well, everyone would have wanted it except these DDCA officials, who presumably don’t have enough money to host the match where they know there wouldn’t be any returns.

Friday, incidentally, was the 75^th day when the two appointed judges, Babu Lal and GP Thareja sat at the DDCA overseeing the sports working committee elections. Yet, after all these days, they haven’t been able to complete the formalities. Yes, my friends, even the national elections last year took less time than the elections of the 111 clubs are taking. It is a tragedy of sorts and cricket is suffering.

It will be worthwhile to find out what sort of a discussion the vice-president CK Khanna had with sports secretary Sunil Dev and an official who has filed a case against him. Whether the meeting was meant to break the deadlock or not will be seen in a day or two.

The former cricketers like Bishan Bedi and Kirti Azad are sceptical. They believe that there will be some sort of a compromise that will again undermine cricket’s quality with seats being shared on the basis of some arrangement. “Some yours, some mine” could be the way forward.

The ex-cricketers met the judge and brought to light the illegal sale of 18 clubs over the last 13-14 years. Their contention is that overall 34 clubs have been sold illegally over this period, bringing a cloud over their ownership and whether they can vote. They will soon prepare the list and papers of the remaining 16 and send them to the judges. The judges will at the most put a note but probably nothing more as these clubs have been voting for quite a long time over the years.

The entire issue now comes to cricket and whether Delhi’s first-class cricket will get affected or not. As of now, it has been badly affected and skipper Gautam Gambhir has expressed his unhappiness over the issue.

As it is the judges can’t make up their mind over the election results and declare them. The issue of six disputed clubs is hampering it. While the votes of 105 were counted, the five disputed and one Mohan Meakins whose secretary is Madan Lal, the former cricketer, are the bone of contention.

Dev has said that the judges are not willing to look at papers from last year, or the court orders and following the lead.

One point is very much clear though. Dev’s aide Vinod Tihara is finding it tough to regain the authority he had especially with the current mandate. He has a marginal majority although the picture will become clear once the ballots of the remaining 5-6 clubs are opened. He can get more slots in the sports working committee or he can lose a couple. He is leading 6-4 at the moment.

The major issue and a fallout of this rivalry is that there is no cash with the DDCA. On Saturday, Hindustan Times reported that they are not holding the T20 warm-up match because of lack of money. Chetan Chauhan pointed out in the report that they have to pay 1.9 crore rupees as taxes to Municipal Corporation of Delhi and 25 lakh rupees to Land and Development Office. Including other expenses, the total cost comes to 3 crore rupees.  Since there are no returns the DDCA don’t want to bear unnecessary expenses. They have not been getting BCCI grants because they haven’t submitted the balance sheets and only a limited amount is being given to them to run cricket. Recently, they were given 4 crore rupees and they are left with just 2-2.5 crore rupees which they’ll need to pay salaries and run cricket.

Making fun of this irony former India captain Bishan Bedi tweeted, “Cash starved DDCA?Really?Then why R so many fat lumps o corruption w/in DDCA clinging on 2 office fr dear life?Crkt starved Del yes;Cash-No!.”

Cricket suffers as sports Committee elections' standoff continues

It has been over a week since the sports working committee elections took place at the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA). And still there has been no headway. Delhi cricket’s future remains at stake, with no one to take responsibility. On September 1, the date the delayed Sports Working Committee elections were held, Vinod Tihara’s faction, backed by Sunil Dev and Sneh Bansal, won six posts in the 10-member committee. The rival faction backed by CK Khanna, Chetan Chauhan and Ravindra Manchanda won 4 posts.

However, there are five clubs, whose ownership is still in a doubt and a lot depends on them as the judges were expected to open them and give verdict. The votes from those clubs can have a massive bearing, it can either bring Khanna-Chauhan-Manchanda’s faction to six posts or it can bring them to less than four and give others more posts. So it is very crucial. However the two judges, GP Thareja and Babu Lal, seems to be delaying matters and it is not helping anyone. If they accept status quo then obviously, there’ll be a massive issue. Over the last two years, either of the two factions won full majority. So decisions could be taken without delay. But with two factions now, there is bound to be massive debates and stand-offs in case the status quo remains.

That the judges are delaying isn’t helping. One wonders whether if they are scared.

Both factions of Roop Nagar, KN Colts to vote at DDCA SWC elections

It is a funny thing, the entire DDCA drama over the sports working committee elections. The other day someone rightly pointed out the fact that few local association elections take place like --- this with all the nautanki and with the rival parties fighting over every inch.

There are two judges sitting at the Ferozeshah Kotla, sorting out the voters’ list and it is being said that they’ve refused even a cup of tea. Well, they might be doing the right thing because with tea will accompany the pakoras and we have all heard what DDCA’s pakoras do to stomach.

In many cases, the two learned judges are not even sure who will vote for whom. There are a few disputes regarding the clubs and they have been hearing that.

The judges Babu Lal and GP Thareja have, however, decided on a few issues. One issue was of the four disputed clubs --- Rani Bagh, Roop Nagar, KN Colts and Young Association. The verdict on Roop Nagar and KN Colts has been giving, keeping both parties happy --- both the rival factions have been allowed to vote which means additional voting rights.

In the case of Young Association, the original owner has not been allowed to vote whereas the other, who and whose dad were the long-time secretary, has been given voting rights. It is yet unclear who they’ll vote for in the elections, the SP Bansal-backed faction or the CK Khanna-Sunil Dev backed faction.

Meanwhile the fight over Rani Bagh is out in the open and the judges will soon have to decide over it.

Interestingly, the case regarding the Youngster cricket club has been heard. The judges will give their judgement most probably on Monday. It has been learnt that there was huge drama and while the late Devendra Chaudhry’s family has all the papers with them, Mr Sunil Dev has stated that he was given charge of the club. It looks likely that Devendra Chaudhry’s family will most likely vote. More on that issue later when the verdict comes. That is it for now. 

Clubs to get subsidies finally

Dharna and hunger strike seem to have become part and parcel of Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) these days. The sports working committee’s another threat of an agitation came a cropper as nothing happened on Tuesday. They had threatened a dharna earlier at Jantar Mantar too. But it seems these threats are meant only to ensure things go on track. Or are they expecting to earn some brownie points.

Anyway, some really good news came out of the DDCA. The clubs will finally get the subsidies. On Monday, the DDCA treasurer Mr Ravindra Manchanda, back from London, had feared the election officers would disallow the payment of subsidies.

However, it didn’t happen. The officers said this won’t affect the election process and that the subsidy could be released. “I don’t know if the election officer will allow the payment,” Mr Manchanda had told Delhi Cricket the other day. His fears were unfound.

The BCCI had paid 1.5 crore rupees upon the request of Mr CK Khanna to ensure that the clubs got their subsidies which haven’t been paid for the last three years.

It should also be noted that payment is also to be made to the judges. The two judges are to be paid 5 lakh rupees each. 

DDCA's irregularities touched by the media

For those of you unaware of this and not having had the time to read the papers, there was an interesting article on the conflict of interest in one of the national dailies, The Indian Express, last weekend.

The article, written by contributing editor Surjit Bhalla, talked about conflict of interest and how ministers involved in the running of the game of cricket vehemently opposed BCCI coming under Right to Information Act. It also said that the Prevention of Sporting Fraud Bill was announced by the Congress within three days of the IPL scandal of 2013. However, shockingly, the BCCI and IPL were kept out of it. We’ll reserve discussion on it for later period. What we’ll talk about is how the article made references copiously to the association we all love and hate in equal measure, the DDCA.

In 2007, BCCI’s NGO status was cancelled by the Union government. Before that, it was not taxed as it was supposed to be producing something for ‘public good’, a key requirement for an NGO.

It is here the article exposes the ills within the workings of the DDCA.

It says, “While it is difficult to obtain balance sheet data for the BCCI prior to 2007, the balance sheet data of one of its premier constituents, the DDCA, are available for two years, 1997-98 and 1999-2000. In Schedule I to R, it is reported that coaching expenses of the DDCA (the public good item) in 1997-98 were zilch (yes, zero) and in 1998-99, such expenses were Rs 20,727. Total DDCA income for the two years was Rs 88 lakh and Rs 200 lakh respectively. So, clearly not a lot was spent on coaching and maybe that is why the Delhi teams cannot win anything!”

It adds, “But one line item in the expenses sheet makes for extraordinary reading. The DDCA is a club, and as such, it serves liquor to its members and their guests. The income from “sale of empty bottles” (presumably liquor) was Rs 22,372 and Rs 24,406 in the two years. In other words, the DDCA received more income from the sale of empty liquor bottles than it spent on coaching.”

This is in the good old days, when probably coaches and coaching weren’t needed that much.  You may argue that DDCA is obviously a club and if people enjoy a drink, then what’s the harm. Also, you may say that at least they showed the sale of empty bottles as income.

However, what you’ll read further will shake you and make you wonder how inefficient DDCA has been:

“In 2010-11, the DDCA spent Rs 3.8 crore on renovation and beautification of toilets at the FSK (Ferozeshah Kotla) constructed just three years earlier, in 2007-08. The MSM (Mainstream media) did not find this newsworthy. Nor has it found it newsworthy to report that Lalit Modi spent Rs 20 crore in the renovation of the Sawai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur during 2005-08. The world can see the difference — the DDCA spending Rs 150 crore to “renovate” Kotla and what just Rs 20 crore can buy in Jaipur. Oh yes, not only has the DDCA spent money inefficiently, but it has also been illegally occupying the stadium ground for the last 12 years (the lease expired in 2002) — and has been allowed to do so primarily by the UPA, and now by the BJP.”

A couple of years back, Hindustan Times carried a report on how the DDCA is occupying the stadium without having paid the lease amount, making their occupation illegal. Well, till date no action has been taken. 

CK Khanna secures bailout for DDCA clubs from BCCI

In what is a major relief for the clubs playing in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) league this year, the BCCI has sanctioned 1.5 crore rupees for the subsidies to the clubs who have gone without any money this year.

The BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry, in a letter addressed to the BCCI and DDCA vice-president, Mr CK Khanna has promised to sanction the money to help the affected clubs. The letter says that the payment is made following a request by Mr Khanna.

The letter dated July 2 states, “Pursuant to your request, the Honorary Secretary has accorded approval to the grant of Rs. 1.5 crore advance against the amount due to DDCA keeping in view the fact that amount needs to be paid to the affiliated clubs (subsidy) for cricketing activities and other government payments.”  

The honorary secretary of the BCCI is Mr Anurag Thakur.  A copy of the letter is placed at the end of this article.

Over the past few days the issue was raked up at the DDCA and the clubs, that groom the upcoming players, had made their displeasure known as they struggled to meet expenses.

By now it has become common knowledge that the DDCA is really short of funds and there is a question mark over the conduct of elections and how they’ll be able to hold sports working committee elections. The BCCI has held back 10 crore rupees from the DDCA, as the state body has failed to submit a proper balance sheet. On top of that, an amount of close to 7 crore rupees is lying in a Central Bank account and it couldn’t be taken out as Mr Tihara’s close confidant Mr Sunil Dev had put the spanner in the works, terming the account illegal as according to him vice-president Mr Chetan Chauhan hadn’t sought his permission for shifting the DDCA money into this account.

Mr Dev says that the transfer from the regular account was illegal. However, Mr Chauhan, who has told people that he’d rather shoot himself dead than even think of doing anything illegal, says that the transfer of money was done because Mr Bansal had created plenty of accounts and the chequebooks of those had been missing. Mr Bansal had been accused of moving the money without the knowledge of directors for which he was removed last December. Mr Bansal, Mr Tihara and Mr Dev share a close rapport these days and form a faction whereas Mr Manchanda, Mr Khanna and Mr Chauhan form the other group.

In a way, Mr Chauhan did the right thing by moving the money into another account to make it and the chequebook safe. However, he blundered on the fact that he didn’t seek the signature of Mr Dev, who was one of the four signatories, and belonged to the rival camp. The bank didn’t release the funds after Mr Dev complained and asked DDCA else to replace Mr Dev as signatory.  The DDCA has since then done exactly that. But it seems the release of the funds is taking time. 

Hibernating cheques surprise election officer!

For the past few days, Ferozeshah Kotla has been witnessing frenetic activity with the two warring factions thrashing out details for the sports working committee elections that are to be held by early August. Retired judges GP Thareja and Babu Lal, it seems, are being as adamant and as matter-of-fact as they can. On the first day of discussions, there was lot of agitation and Thareja put his foot down, admonishing many senior officials.

The issue here is the sports working committee’s battle with the executive committee and a sports committee backed by them. The first step has already been taken --- a list of the 111 clubs is being put up on the board with their secretaries and/or voters mentioned on it.

The trick question comes now --- will all of these 111 clubs get to vote for a sports working committee?

The answer my dear readers is --- it could be no.

As many as six clubs are under dispute. While Ravi Brothers and Paragon Cricket Club are among the disputed from the opposition camp, KN Colts, Roop Nagar, Rani Bagh and Young association are those from the ruling Sports Working Committee faction. All but Paragon have court cases pending due to the dispute in the ownership.

When the issue arrives as to who will vote, then sparks could fly.

The other day Mr Rajeev Malhotra, the owner of the Paragon spoke about the issue with his club. Malhotra was pretty upset that despite his club not being among those under dispute, he, along with Ravi Brothers, didn’t get any matches this season.

“I can’t say about others, but my dispute looks to be a case of sports committee’s dadagiri. There is no dispute about the ownership about my club and I have all the papers to prove that everything is in order,” says Mr Malhotra.

“We were promised that we’ll get matches after January 14, 2015 but we were not given any game.”

It is surprising that Mr Malhotra’s travails began since 2013 when he had decided to end the long loyalty with the senior officials of the current sports committee. His separation from Mr Vinod Tihara helped him get into a ruling faction for one year, before Mr Tihara’s committee was back and his club ostracised.

“Last year I lost. I had campaigned against Mr Tihara, so obviously I never expected him to look at me favourably. But I don’t understand why my club is being penalised and not allowed to play,” says Mr Malhotra.

The sports working committee says that there are issues about the ownership and secretary-ship of the club. It should be noted that Mr Malhotra’s brother Mr Sanjeev Malhotra had been a previous secretary of the club.  

Anyway, the interesting thing that happened is yet to come and will shock all of you. As the rule goes, a private club is supposed to pay 750 rupees as annual subscription fees whereas an institutional club is supposed to pay 5000 rupees.

While many of the clubs had paid the subscription fees through cheques, it has been learnt that the sports committee failed to encash those cheques. As a result of it, most of the cheques lapsed. Both Paragon and Ravi Brothers weren’t given the chance to pay subscription and hence were away from the league. With the change in DDCA management in a December 9, 2014 meeting, when Mr Sneh Bansal was removed and Mr Chetan Chauhan took charge (as part of the KCM --- Khanna-Chauhan-Manchanda faction), Paragon’s Mr Malhotra and  Ravi Brothers’ Mr Ashok Sharma ensured that their clubs paid their subscription with the party at the top looking at them favourably. They deposited the cheques and got them cleared. So, in a way, the money from only these two clubs was cleared at that stage whereas the others were officially out.

As the news goes now, so far only 30-35 clubs’ cheques have been cleared with the receipts.

In fact, to the shock of everyone, one of the judges appointed as the election officer raised the issue with Mr Tihara, the convenor of the sports committee. He asked as to why the cheques have become invalid and lapsed. The judge has issued an order asking for fresh cheques from clubs which should be cleared by July 20.  

Sports Working Committee elections to be held in six weeks' time

By the way did any of you, dear readers, notice something unusual. The whatsapp messages, poking fun at others, didn’t come on Tuesday. REALLY?! We were shocked not to see it too. After all, there were all sorts of messages coming our way all these days. Stuff that showed the bankruptcy of minds and souls in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).

So what was the reason? It has been learnt that the Tees Hazari Courts, where the sports committee election date case was being heard, ticked off the officials and mentioned clearly in its order that such things have to be stopped. Well done, Court. While the nicknames and the funny bits made you laugh and gave you juicy bits to relish, they also made one wonder if people sitting at the home of Delhi cricket are really mature. Hope they do mature, now that the honourable court has intervened. 

Anyway the news is that the sports working committee elections will be held within six weeks and a couple of new election officers, GP Thareja and Babu Lal, two retired additional sessions judges, will oversee the elections. This is after justice KS Mohi was removed on Monday. But the point is the elections can’t be delayed now.

This verdict sent a wave of cheers in the KCM (Khanna- Chauhan-Manchanda) camp. Whereas the BTD (Bansal-Tihara-Dev) group was subdued. They didn’t straightway fire mails and whatsapp messages like they had the other day.  

In fact, it was the Delhi Cricket Council, which is backing the KCM group that served out a volley sending out a message which said that it was a tight slap on their face and their tactics of delaying the elections (and thereby keeping the whole affair in a limbo) has failed. So in brass tacks, the elections will be held by early August which is a relief for everyone. You don’t want to be like some university elections, which sometimes happen and sometimes don’t.

Now the whole issue boils down to how many clubs will support the current sports working committee convenor Mr Vinod Tihara and how many the other group. Mr Tihara had recently claimed that he has the support of 87 clubs, which practically means he has full support of everyone except clubs of those officials that are against him. Now this is a massive claim. It means that either he’ll win hands down or otherwise he’ll go back embarrassed. So let’s wait and watch.

Election officer KS Mohi removed

In a way, Monday’s verdict from the Tees Hazari Courts didn’t come as shock to most of the people. Many people at the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) had already known what would happen. And expectedly, Justice KS Mohi, the man appointed to conduct the elections was removed and in place a new election officer is to be appointed.

The two factions Messrs CK Khanna-Chetan Chauhan-Ravindra Manchanda and  Messrs Sneh Bansal-Vinod Tihara-Sunil Dev won one round each or let us put it this way, scored a goal each to end Monday, the June 29, to end the day’s play as a draw.

For convenience sake I’ll abbreviate the factions. I am sure you guys too would appreciate the abbreviated versions. If not and you happen to be a devotee of any of these, then you can expand the abbreviations while reading it.

While the BTD (Bansal-Tihara-Dev) faction managed to get Justice Mohi removed as election officer, the KCM (Khanna-Chauhan-Manchanda) group managed to get the case shifted to another judge for today’s hearing (i.e Tuesday, June 30). The KCM group thinks that the issue is of election date which needs to be set before August 4, preferably by July 31.

Mr Khanna had said a week back that he is ready for a change in the election officer. “You see that is not the issue with us. We don’t mind changing the election officer,” he had said last week. “The only thing is that we want the elections to be held on time.”

Mr Chauhan too has been of the same view. “We have, however, managed to shift the case to the other court. Our primary interest is to have elections on time.”

Whether the case shifts or stays at the same court and with the same judge remains to be seen.

The release from the BTD faction, meanwhile, celebrated KS Mohi’s removal. It stated, “In a big setback to Sh CK Khanna the BCCI & DDCA Vice President, a Delhi Court today rejected his controversial appointee Sh KS Mohi, retired judge as the Election Officer for the forthcoming SWC Elections of the DDCA.”

Stay tuned for more drama. 

No coloured clothing, play in whites boys!

So, all the major private hot weather tournaments in the national Capital are over. The Lala Raghubirs, the GG Dutts and Om Nath Soods are done and dusted for this year. And here comes the big one --- the DDCA Hot Weather tournament. It is going to be inaugurated on Sunday morning, June 28, at 7.30 am. So those of you interested in having a look, can drop in. There are going to be fireworks and we’ll tell you why.

The tournament, which is the centrepiece of all cricket in Delhi and in a way marks the culmination of the long league season, wouldn’t have had it as bad as this, ever since the BCCI money started flowing into DDCA coffers.

It has been wrought into a bad shape by the continuing squabbling and factionalism (There, there... and I am getting started on it all over again. But you probably know by now the stuff going in the DDCA, the warring parties, the frozen account and that un-submitted balance sheet).

On Friday, news emerged from the headquarters that this time the Hot Weather will be played in white clothes and with a red cherry, the way cricket traditionally has always been played. Over the years, the BCCI money had brought in coloured clothing, white ball and a day-night final under lights at the Ferozeshah Kotla.

For many old-timers, it was a cheap gimmick. The white clothing was anyway smarter, more handsome than the ill-matching coloured clothing. You’d have all those 50-odd teams getting some limited number of coloured clothing and the players would turn up like some circus characters. There’d be pyjamas of one bright colour and jersey of another bright colour and you’d feel if they have walked out straight out of their bed or are gearing up as extras for a dance sequence of a Devang Patel song.

But then one-day international and national level cricket is played with a white ball and in coloured clothing and that’s the way the system has to groom the young ones for the future. And hence the decision to splurge money on clothes, floodlights and of course, since the teams are too many and there being not enough colour combinations, those odd colour combinations.

Friday’s message from the DDCA, released by the joint convenor, tournament organising committee, Mr Vijay Bahadur Mishra, stated, “This is to inform all the participating clubs in the DDCA Hot Weather cricket tournament that matches will be played with red ball and white dress.”

The reason of course is attributed to a lack of funds. We know the DDCA is facing cash crunch due to its own follies. There is so much money around to be had and used, but it is just a clash of egos that is stalling the process.

Would Mr Dev let the account get de-frozen? No, because probably his Sar jhuk jayega. Would Mr Tihara, who is crying hoarse over the state of local cricket, press his close friend and ally Mr Dev to de-freeze the account so that close to 7 crore rupees are released. Or would he continue with these rants despite knowing everything? Or would Mr CK Khanna, firmly ensconced over the sorry affairs, fund the clothes and white balls from his pocket? After all he is the BCCI vice-president too and can use his good offices. Or will Mr Sneh Bansal, who has been accused of ‘round-tripping’ of 1.55 crore rupees and whose acts, as per Mr Kirti Azad, are part of reason why the balance sheet hasn’t been submitted, step in or will he just hang onto his throne.

These are questions that deserve some solid and quick answers. On Friday, a piece of news emerged that a match has been played at the Ferozeshah Kotla with torn sightscreen.

Hell, now we don’t even have a proper sightscreen. Or someone’s playing tricks. Or someone’s bluffing and creating panic situation. DDCA itni phateechar ho gayee hai kya?

Anyway the good news is that Hot Weather will happen although in circumstances not conducive to train ODI cricketers. We are not even sure if the white clothing will be provided by the DDCA Sports Working Committee. They have hinted at uncertainty over this.

So don’t be surprised if the players turn out in some old whites. By the way, some of the old-timers or aesthetically sensitive people wouldn’t mind that. 

A day of demands: Tihara's plea, Azad's letter and protest by Paragon, Ravi Brothers

As expected, the current Sports Working Committee met on Wednesday evening and its convenor Mr Vinod Tihara apparently wrote a three-page letter which he has planned to send to the BCCI bosses. To cut the long story short, the letter addressed to Anurag Thakur, the BCCI secretary, says that all officials in Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) are corrupt and the 33 crore rupees given to it have gone waste.

It requests the board to divert the money to the Sports Working Committee so that it could run cricketing activities and does not have to ask directors of the DDCA every time for monetary sanctions.

Whether the Indian board looks at it positively or not is yet to be seen but such a move, although quite nice as people running cricket will directly get money, could also set a dangerous precedent where every association’s cricket wing may demand similar privileges, not be answerable to top bosses and may also branch off if headstrong, wilful and obstinate people happen to run those wings. It is a very delicate issue and Mr Thakur and his colleagues at the board headquarters will have to carefully look at it.

There is no doubt that BCCI’s money going to DDCA has remained unaccounted for and has also gone waste over the years. In the words of former Delhi cricketer Aakash Lal, “this (Ferozeshah Kotla) is the worst cricket ground in the country”. Who is to blame is something everyone knows but no one wants to say. The rot, they say, starts from the top.

On Wednesday, Mr Kirti Azad, the former India cricketer who is fighting a battle against corruption, sent out a letter to media which he has addressed to the finance minister Mr Arun Jaitley. The first point he makes points out why the BCCI is not releasing the money to the DDCA so that it could pay out the dues. His letter states:

“Balance Sheet for 2013-14 cannot be properly prepared since it contains all kinds of fake bills and round tripping of Rs 1.55 crores by S P Bansal and Anil Khanna in cahoots with Pankaj Bhardwaj, C K Bhardwaj, Pritam Panwar, and Chaurasia. Without the duly audited Balance Sheet, BCCI will not give DDCA any subvention money.”

This, my dear friends, says a lot. BCCI is yet to give DDCA an outstanding sum 10 crore rupees for last year, according to Mr Ravindra Manchanda, the treasurer. It is primarily because the balance sheet hasn’t been provided.

Then you have 7 crore rupees lying frozen with the Central Bank due to internal squabbling. So how will things work out? Only you, Delhi’s dear cricket lovers can suggest some solid solution.  

Cut to the Wednesday’s happenings at the DDCA. While the Sports Working Committee met, there was a small protest at the premises where members of two clubs, the Paragon Club and Ravi Brothers staged a protest against the committee. Their complaint was that they were not being allowed to play in the league. There were players from the club present. More about that later.

In another piece of news, the Delhi Cricket Council has written a letter to the authorities demanding the sports committee elections be held before July 31 as it will give the new committee time to take over when the term of the current one expires.

From best friend to enemy No 1: Tihara vs CK Khanna

Things keep getting worse at the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) and it seems relationships don’t last long and can change in a short period. Tuesday saw another piece of drama. A letter written by sports working committee convenor Mr Vinod Tihara attacks association and BCCI vice-president Mr CK Khanna and promises to save the DDCA employees from him.

Mr Tihara wrote in his letter that the Mr Khanna has been ruling DDCA for the last 33 years and has been manipulating and resorting to illegal means and acts to get himself elected.

Mr Tihara further mentions, “I have initiated the beginning of the end of the rule of CK Khanna and would not rest till he is taken to Tihar Jail with full band baaza”.

It is surprising how Mr Tihara has suddenly got inimical to Mr Khanna. Till last year he was his best friend. In fact, when former cricketer Mr Kirti Azad raised the issue during one of the elections, he pointed out the nexus between Mr Tihara and Mr Khanna. In fact, it is common knowledge at DDCA Mr Khanna has helped Mr Tihara win elections over a number of years. For those frequenting the DDCA, Mr Tihara was often seen in his room.

So how come the two have fallen out and Mr Tihara become the “Jaani Dushman’ of Mr Khanna. From “Ye dosti hum nahi chhodenge”, the song has become “Main tera dushman, dushman too mera...”.

The crux of the issue my friends are the forthcoming sports working committee elections as you must have known while reading this blog. Mr Tihara has become the key enemy of Mr Khanna as it is known that the latter is not backing him this time.

To give you an idea of the timeline of the events that has led to this enmity:

On June 13 a resolution was passed to set the procedure for elections in motion. DDCA director Mr Ajay Sharma proposed it whereas Mr Ashok Sharma, another director seconded it.

On June 17, a meeting was called where former test cricketer Mr Chetan Chauhan, Mr CK Khanna and DDCA treasurer Mr Ravindra Manchanda were present. Mr Sunil Dev, the fourth key person, although asked to come didn’t attend the meeting. Mr Dev is a key ally of Mr Tihara. At the meeting, it was decided that KS Mohi, a retired judge would be appointed the election officer.

On June 18, a letter was despatched to Mr Mohi and he showed his receiving on the very same day.

On June 19, Mr Tihara approached the Tees Hazari Courts contesting that the resolutions are all illegal as the directors’ term had already expired on November 30, 2014.

On June 22, the court asked to seal the register where it was mentioned that Mr Mohi would be the election officer and proposals for elections were set up. Mr Tihara had claimed that the appointments were done on back-date, that is after he had filed a case on June 19.

However, Mr Ashok Sharma has claimed that the case filed on June 19 already has the contentious papers. “If the appointment paper and the election resolution is already there with the June 19 case, how is it possible that changes could be made on back-date. They are bluffing and fooling everyone. They just want to hang this around for the next year or year and a half and stay in charge of sports committee.”

The next date of hearing is June 29. Surely sparks will fly till then. The latest being an allegation of Mr Tihara that Mr Khanna and his friends had arranged goons to beat up two members of his sports working committee – Mr Anil Mishra and Mr Padam Chauhan. Delhi Cricket will talk about it in the next post as much drama is likely to happen on Wednesday evening over these allegations. 

Court asks Sports Officer Satpal to produce sealed register on June 29

On Monday, June 22, a strange message popped out of Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).

The message sent on behalf of the current sports working committee on whatsapp read, “Pappu raktchaap se peedit ho gaya hai. Uske swasthya ki jaankari laao. Pappu raktchaap se peedit ho gaye hain. Hum unke jaldi swasth hone ki prathna karte hain.” (Pappu is down with blood pressure. Get information about his health. Pappu is down with blood pressure. We pray for his well being.”

Now, Pappu here doesn’t refer to Rahul Gandhi nor to Salman Khan. It refers to Mr CK Khanna, the vice-president of the DDCA and the vice-president of BCCI.

Such insinuations, gross and sarcastic remarks are not new in the DDCA. There have been worse.

Mr Khanna was supposed to appear in the court in a case that Mr Vinod Tihara & Co, of the current sports working committee, had filed. The allegation was that Mr Khanna had put in officials for the Sports Working Committee elections on back date over a contentious resolution to hold elections. He is facing contempt of court for having tampered with the documents.

The current committee says that Mr Khanna got it done in desperation a few days back to ensure that the court doesn’t stop sports committee elections before August 4 whereas Mr Khanna says that things have been done methodically, as per the rules and systematically. He has even told Delhi Cricket that the current committee is trying to stop the elections as they know they’ll lose.

Whatever be the case, Mr Khanna couldn’t make it to the court due to blood pressure and the court has now asked Mr Satpal, the sports officer at DDCA to seal the register which has the details, and produce it before the court on June 29 when the court also hears the case of Mr Tihara’s allegations about ‘resolutions since December, 2014 being illegal’ including one that sent Mr Khanna to the BCCI. Mr Khanna has also been asked to provide details on June 29. The Khanna faction says that Mr Tihara and Mr Sunil Dev are desperate to remove Mr Khanna from the post of BCCI vice-presidency and even want Mr Jyotiraditya Scindia to replace him from Central Zone, from where he got elected.

Mr Khanna had shocked the entire cricketing fraternity after he defeated the Madhya Pradesh strongman Mr Scindia in his own backyard during the BCCI elections. The post of vice-presidency from North Zone had gone to Mr ML Nehru of the Jammu and Kashmir.

Battle moves to social media, but should SWC elections be delayed

There is a war brewing at the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). The two warring parties are the Mr Vinod Tihara-Sunil Dev-Sneh Bansal trio against the Delhi Cricket Council, who has Mr CK Khanna, Mr Chetan Chauhan and Mr Ravindra Manchanda by their side. Just think over it. The clubs have not received subsidies, umpires haven’t been paid despite an amount of close to 7 crore is lying in a bank account that has been frozen due to the internal politics after a signatory, Mr Dev, refused to sign. An amount of 10 crore rupees is still with the BCCI as the DDCA hasn’t managed to prepare a balance sheet and submit to the apex body.

The DDCA is on the verge of crisis once again. And it has become a laughing stock again. The war has now extended to social media whatsapp with both parties inundating their followers with messages.

The Tihara group’s lawyer sent out a message saying, “The parental organization is always powerful and will remain so. It delight it's power to make it more functional. It's democratic and followed in progressive society globally. But conflict of interest always lead to bad blood as in the case of DDCA Executive Committee and democratically elected SWC. It has tried it's best, to fulfil it's electoral promises without much required support from The DDCA's Executive Committee. And after exhausting all possible channels, it's Convener was forced to write a letter dated 16 June 2015 to the Hony. Gen. Sect. DDCA and forwarded it's copies to all concerned with BCCI, officials of DDCA, Secretaries of all affiliated clubs of DDCA.”

Then Vinod Tihara sent out a message saying, “If the DDCA Executive Committee cannot release funds for Annual Cricket League, Club subsidies to its Affiliated Clubs pending since last 3 years, I on behalf of the SWC demand that EC members public ally feel sorry about it and tender apology and resign or else the SWC will not allow them to function. Even otherwise 18 Executive Directors are illegally holding on to their office despite their term being over on 30.09.14. I have ensure through the court case Vinod Tihara Vs DDCA that the "fraud" is exposed before the world.”

The Delhi Cricket Council sent its message on whatsapp, “We agree you are fighting with your funds looted by you this year and for the last 10 years. By siding with Bansal and Sunil Dev you have shown that you also belong to that corrupt group .You are right 87 secry's are dead against you and don't even want to see your dirty face in Ddca. The mere mention of SWC (Sports Working Committee) elections through a resolution by the executive committee sent shivers through your body and you ran towards your equally corrupt lawyer to stall the elections. But you were surprised when you came to know that the elections would be held on time. All your dirty efforts went in vain and you have nothing left in you. You are a spent force who have done nothing for clubs and secry's. The previous committee did so many good things that it's difficult to describe it in words. Never in the history of Ddca has any committee done such good work for the benefit of clubs. You be busy with bansal and court cases, this suits you. Your lawyer is a happy man-More to come -don't run away-kehte hain Picture abhi baki hai.”

In this battle, the patience of the people concerned with cricket is running thin. On June 19, the court had said, “this court deems it appropriate that the ‘resolution by circulation dated 13.06.15” be not acted upon till next date of hearing. It is clarified that the DDCA shall not fix any date for holding of elections of SWC till next date of hearing”.

The next date of hearing is June 29 and the Delhi Cricket Council is confident that the court’s decision will not stall the elections. Mr CK Khanna had already told delhicricketnews.blogspot.com that this is a desperate measure to delay the inevitable. Mr Tihara has alleged in his note to court that his opponents got a backdated letter mentioning the appointment of election officers.

Mr Tihara has also said that he has the support of majority of the clubs and they are with him.

Let us analyse the entire matter from the point of view of a cricket lover. Why shouldn’t there be an election? Why should it be stalled now? Shall we carry on with the status quo and witness Delhi’s cricket in the courtroom?

Or should there be a proactive measure where parties should sit and talk and deliberate over the matter.

Everyone knows that corruption runs deep in DDCA and the internal bickering are hurting the game and its connoisseurs.

It won’t be wrong to say that the latest case is another way of hurting the cricket, knowingly or unknowingly, rightly or wrongly.

In one of the responses to an earlier report that delhicricketnews.blogspot.com got from the Mr Tihara’s lawyer, Mr Gautam Dutta, it was mentioned that the elections can’t be held in July as was reported by us. Now Mr Tihara’s contention in the court case filed by him is that the elections shouldn’t be held before August 4, 2015, the date the present committee’s term expires and it completes its tenure.

However, the Delhi Cricket Council points out that for any election, it has to take place before the term expires so that the new body can take over immediately after the day the previous term ends. It makes sense.

In any and every election, including the national general elections, such a thing happens. The elections are held and while the results are declared, the outgoing official/body or even Prime Minister serves till the time the new one takes over. So this premise that the elections can be held only after the tenure ends seems flawed and can hurt cricket even further.

What decision the court takes on June 29 remains to be seen. However, it will be interesting to see whether Delhi’s cricket remains hung in suspended animation or the elections are held early to decide the future course of action. 

Court sets June 29 date for hearing EC, Khanna says these are tactics to delay elections

In what is turning out to be a desperate attempt to shake the existing order and ensure delay in the sports working committee elections, Mr Vinod Tihara and Co had approached the court challenging the resolutions passed by the Delhi and District Cricket Association’s (DDCA) Executive Committee (EC). He had contested that the 16 directors had already retired on November 30, 2014 and all resolutions after that including the removal of Mr Sneh Bansal as president were illegal.

However, the Tis Hazari Court where this case was lodged, has taken note of it and asked for a written reply from the DDCA executive committee on June 29 following which the current dispensation feels the elections will be held. It is unlikely that there will be a major change, at the most, the case will keep dragging on ensuring cricket suffers making both sides big losers. Mr CK Khanna, whose appointment to BCCI from DDCA has also been challenged says, that it is a desperate attempt by them to delay the sports working committee elections as Mr Tihara and Co know they are going to lose.

It should be noted that over the past few months, Mr Tihara and Mr Sunil Dev, the sports secretary, have blasted the current order. Mr Dev even ensuring that the Central Bank of India account where 7 crore rupees are lying be frozen forcing DDCA to be without cash. In such a desperate moment, the treasurer of the DDCA Mr Ravindra Manchanda had to call GMR for the over one crore rupees dues that have to be paid to the DDCA.

“These are just tactics to delay the inevitable and bother us,” said Mr CK Khanna. “We have to give a reply on June 29 and after that we are hoping things will work out.”

The sports working committee elections are scheduled for July.

CK Khanna's BCCI appointment challenged, Manchanda talks to GMR for money

In a fresh twist to the ongoing Delhi cricket drama, Sports Working Committee convenor Vinod Tihara has taken the DDCA (Delhi and District Cricket Association) directors to the court saying that all recent resolutions passed by them are deemed to be illegal, including the decision to send CK Khanna to the BCCI as vice-president nominee to which he got elected. Tihara has argued in the case that the decisions were taken by directors in early December, 2014 whereas the tenure of 18 directors (of the 24 directors) had already ended on November 30, 2014.

The case also attacks Ravindra Manchanda, who according to the Tihara group feel was already holding a post when he was appointed the treasurer. The Manchanda case had also been filed earlier despite no positive outcome for Tihara. This is a fresh visit to it.

In December the DDCA directors had decided to remove president Sneh Bansal due to his involvement of round tripping of money. They had also decided that CK Khanna will be the DDCA representative at the BCCI. This had irked Bansal’s close associates Tihara and sports secretary Sunil Dev. According  to some officials, the duo had helped freeze the new DDCA account at Central Bank where 7 crore rupees are lying. That put the DDCA in a dock as they had no money to pay officials like umpires, club subsidies and ground fees.

The case filed at the Tis Hazari also attacks directors for non-payment of club subsidies.

Treasurer Ravindra Manchanda however says that this is a desperate attempt to shake the existing order. He and CK Khanna took a decision in Tuesday’s finance committee meeting and assured the clubs that subsidies will be paid the moment they get the money.

On Thursday, Manchanda described as fruitful talks with GMR who are supposed to give DDCA over 1 crore rupees in dues. “We should get that money in a day or two following which we will disburse the money,” Manchanda said. “We have also told Bansal to get in touch with bookmyshow.com to give the money accruing from gate sales for the India-West Indies match.”