No World Twenty20 Matches in Delhi Without Clearances, Warns Board of Control For Cricket in India

The World Twenty20 matches in New Delhi, including a semifinal, may be shifted out of the city. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has warned the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) to procure mandatory No Objection Certificates (NOC) from competent authorities by January 31 or lose the matches, according to secretary Anurag Thakur. (India-Sri Lanka Second Twenty20 Shifted From Delhi to Ranchi)

On Friday, the DDCA lost the hosting rights of the second Twenty20 International between India and Sri Lanka on Febtuary 12. With the High Court refusing to give directive to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for giving Provisional Occupancy Certificate (POC) required for hosting the match, the BCCI shifted the match to Ranchi.

The two-day deadline given by the BCCI virtually makes it impossible for DDCA to get the MCD and others clearances as January 30th and 31 are weekends with all state government offices closed.

"As far as the World Twenty20 is concerned, we have given DDCA a deadline till January 31 to procure all the necessary NOCs failing which the seven allotted matches will be shifted to other venues with each of them getting a match," Thakur said.

"I have told them to provide us with all the permissions in writing. If they don't come with NOC by 5 pm on January 31st, matches will be shifted."

While DDCA working president Chetan Chauhan and treasurer Ravinder Manchanda were expecting that World Twenty20 matches will not be shifted due to the time at their disposal, the short time at hand might put an end to DDCA's hopes of hosting the matches.

Chauhan has already said that at least 10-12 days of work will be required to comply with the 60-point deviation of norms that the MCD has pointed out in its report. In all, the future of World T20 matches at the Kotla looks bleak.