DDCA buys some more time

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 9

Is the BCCI willing to take the risk of hosting the World T20 matches in Delhi? At the moment, the board has no choice but to wait and watch as the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) on Tuesday assured the Delhi High Court that it will complete work on all 60 objections raised by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) within the next 20 days.

The DDCA informed the court that it will deposit Rs 50 lakh as security with the SDMC. The amount will be forfeited if the association fails to correct the violations listed by the corporation. Earlier, the DDCA withdrew its plea seeking direction for the civic body to grant certificate to host the World T20 matches at the Ferozeshah Kotla.

SDMC counsel Gaurang Kanth informed the court that the corporation will have no problem in issuing the ‘Final Occupancy Certificate’ if the DDCA complies with its demands and improve the safety features inside the stadium.

Yet, one possibility will keep the BCCI on the tenterhooks — what if the SDMC refuses to grant the occupancy certificate as well as the NOC at the last moment in the event of the DDCA failing to complete the remaining 60 per cent “rectification” work at the stadium? The BCCI will hope the DDCA, for once, gets its act together and get the required clearances on March 1. 

Meanwhile, the DDCA has invited Justice Mukul Mudgal to oversee  the prepartions for the World T2 matches.