INDIA NEWS

Delhi government denied permission to honour World Cup heroes

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

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Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) quashed Delhi Government's request to felicitate the state's 1983 and 2011 World Cup winners inside the Feroz Shah Kotla's field of play, on Saturday (December 5), saying that the ceremony would have violated the ICC norms.

Kotla, Delhi's primary cricket ground, is currently hosting the fourth and final Test between India and South Africa and as per the rules, no access is allowed on to the field of play during the course of a game.

The Aravind Kejriwal-led Delhi government had intimated Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) that the chief minister will be felicitating 10 World Cup winning heroes from the state, including Bishan Singh Bedi, Mohinder Amarnath, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir among others, on Saturday before the start of play on Day 3.

BCCI, however, denied permission ruling that the ceremony in the field of play would violate the terms. The state government, at the last minute, decided to call off the programme despite being allowed to use any other part of the ground.

"The BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur sent an email that it would not allow any felicitation to be held in the playing arena during the course of the Test match. The message was conveyed around 10 pm at night. It stated that it cannot allow anything inside the field of play," Ravinder Manchanda, the DDCA treasurer, was quoted as saying.

"In fact, Mr Thakur said that they could do it outside the playing arena at one of the Hill-side galleries, but they refused. The DDCA had no role in the matter. We only followed BCCI diktat. But at 8:35 am this morning, Delhi government informed that the programme is being cancelled."

Later, in a press conference on Saturday, Delhi High Court appointed observer Justice (Retd) Mukul Mudgal revealed that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal indeed "insisted" on having the felicitation on the field of play.

Talking to the media, Mudgal shared the text message conversation he had with Rahul Mehra, Delhi government's counsel, who was talking to him on behalf of Kejriwal.

"Rahul was sending me the messages of the CM as I did not speak to him personally. In one of the messages, it was written that it should be insisted that venue of the scheduled programme cannot be changed. I replied stating that DDCA is bound by BCCI's directive which cannot be changed," Mudgal told PTI.

"I told Rahul that alternate arrangement can be made but he sent a WhatsApp reply on behalf of CM that stated: 'No Sir'."

"Once BCCI said that it cannot be allowed after the start of play, I had to follow the norms," Justice Mudgal said, defending himself after a text from Mehra on CM's behalf stated, "You are the boss."

When questioned about the Virender Sehwag felicitation before the start of play on Day 1, Manchanda clarified, "It was a BCCI function. This is the function of a third party during an ICC-accredited match. So BCCI said that nothing can be done inside the playing arena.

"I took Bedi saab inside but after some time, (but) he decided to leave after (getting to know) about the cancellation," Manchanda said, revealing that the spin legend had already reached the stadium.

"It's not me but Delhi government that has been denied its privileges. I did not represent BCCI. Don't wish to say anything more," Bedi said.

Kirti Azad, a known critic of DDCA, said, "I see a more sinister design in all this. The situation has gone from bad to worse. If this move had Shashank Manohar's okay, then I am sorry to say, I am disappointed."

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