Gambhir turns up on first day of nets as judges' blunder puts cricket in limbo

The scene in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is grim to say the least. And with both the warring factions at loggerheads and closely tied following the sports working committee elections, there is little chance any one will give way. And there is no chance of announcement of a result anytime soon. Which means cricket will continue the way it has been and there will be push and pull from both the factions regarding players’ inclusion.

After days of speculation, Monday eventually saw the camp starting with captain Gautam Gambhir leading the charge. There were about 40-45 players under his wings. Anil Jain, of the Vinod Tihara faction and who had signed one of the three teams, was there as net coordinator and looked pretty cheerful in his office. Surender Khanna, who had been appointed assistant coach in the list sent out by the DDCA executive committee director Ashok Sharma too was there at nets. Madan Lal, who has been appointed mentor by Chetan Chauhan who also sent out a list, will most likely join on Wednesday as he has taken off on Monday and Tuesday. He had told the Hindustan Times newspaper that he will turn up only when things get sorted.

However, the crux of the matter has been the judges’ decision and how they blundered on a simple process. Normally, you don’t question judges’ decision. However, they could have easily avoided all this confusion by first deciding on the ownership of the five disputed clubs and then going ahead with the elections. That they didn’t, has brought the situation to such a pass.

They could have easily let the decision on the ownership be sent to the court or could have allowed both the factions of the two clubs to vote. But they didn’t and first went for the elections. Had the election results been one-sided then there would have been no issue. But unfortunately, the results have come down to a very close fight, 6-4 in Tihara’s favour. Now whichever faction he favours with his decision in the case of ownership of the five clubs, the other one is bound to go to the court as the stakes are high. So as of now the judges’ decision to drag this on for so long and get the priorities wrong has put the entire sports committee in a limbo and open to compromises.  

Three teams for Delhi Ranji, which one is the right one!

By now you may have gleaned the papers as to what is happening in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). We don’t need to tell you that three lists of probables have been sent out for the Delhi Ranji camp and that apart from an issue over players, there is a brouhaha over the choice of coaches.

While Chetan Chauhan is hell bent on having Madan Lal as the head coach-cum-mentor, the rival Vinod Tihara group, who form last year’s sports working committee, have not named anyone as coach. They have put the onus on captain Gautam Gambhir and want him to handle the team.

Gambhir was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times as saying that he is still not aware of the team, coach or the plans. “I have no knowledge of the team, camp, coach or how things will progress. I have been preparing for the upcoming season at a personal level. However, as far as the squad is concerned, I am yet to be informed. This is DDCA’s job,” he was quoted by the Hindustan Times.

Interestingly Gambhir and last year’s Delhi coach Vijay Dahiya gel well. The two formed a team during last year’s Ranji season and have had a successful partnership in the Indian Premier League at the helm of Kolkata Knight Riders. Dahiya has supposedly been the man being pushed by Vinod Tihara’s group. And Chauhan has been objecting to his appointment. It remains to be seen how it all develops. However, Naresh Sharma ‘Tappu’ said that they have shortlisted 2-3 names for the post of coach.

Ashok Sharma, a DDCA director sent out his own list and he pushed the name of former India keeper Surender Khanna in the list. It will be interesting to see how all this folds out on Monday morning, the day of the camp.

We are publishing all the three lists, so that you get an idea as to what players are being pushed by whom.

The two judges, who have been appointed at 10 lakh rupees for the entire season, however, are still sitting on the results with no headway in sight. Which faction has won is still not clear and if there is still no decision on the five disputed clubs on whose votes the entire thing rests, these things will get worse.

As of now Tihara group leads 6-4. And if it stays like this, there are bound to be fireworks. 

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.