Time Running Out for Delhi Cricket Officials, Kotla Test Still Uncertain
Delhi Government Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has temporarily deferred the payment of entertainment tax by DDCA officials. Kotla is scheduled to host the fourth India-South Africa Test in December. The BCCI deadline on Kotla's readiness expires on Tuesday.
With just a day left to meet the November 17 deadline set by the BCCI for obtaining all clearances to host the final India-South Africa Test, Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has been given a lifeline by the Delhi government, headed by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. (Arvind Kejriwal Government to Probe Corruption in DDCA)
DDCA officials have met Kejriwal who has agreed to keep the issue of entertainment tax in abeyance. The decision will be taken after the match at Kotla from December 3. DDCA has written a letter to the BCCI to release their funds.
Earlier, there was some tension for the DDCA as the India-South Africa Test continued to be in limbo over continuing issues regarding entertainment tax.
"We are in the process of organising everything and I am positive about the deadline. We are in the process of getting all the clearances. We are in touch with government officials and hopefully things will be resolved," DDCA vice-president Chetan Chauhan told PTI. (Delhi in Danger of Losing India vs South Africa Kotla Test)
DDCA president Sneh Prakash Bansal also sounded optimistic about the outcome and is keeping his fingers crossed.
"Meetings are taking place. Let's hope that everything falls into place. We are all working towards it," he said. DDCA officials are likely to meet Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Monday night.
Kejriwal had formed a three-member committee to probe complaints of financial irregularities and wrongdoings in the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association and a report is expected soon. The bone of contention was the Rs 24.45 crore in entertainment tax slapped by the Delhi government on the state body.
According to reports, Kejriwal had initially refused to waive off the 24.45 crore entertainment tax and declined Chauhan's plea for a deferral of payment of tax after the end of the Test. The entertainment tax is said to have been unpaid since 2012 and the DDCA is hoping to get a tax waiver for the same.
The BCCI had kept Pune as a back-up venue in case the DDCA failed to meet the deadline for the game starting December 3.
- With inputs from Rica Roy-