NEW DELHI — New Delhi risked losing its World Twenty20 games in March and April after India cricket authorities ruled out the city as a venue for a match between India and Sri Lanka next month.
Because the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) failed to clear up longstanding provisional construction permits, the Board of Control for Cricket in India switched the T20 between India and Sri Lanka on Feb. 12 to the eastern city of Ranchi, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said Friday.
The other T20s against Sri Lanka are in Pune (Feb. 9) and Visakhapatnam (Feb. 14).
Thakur said in a statement that New Delhi was given a deadline of Sunday to procure all clearances, or risk losing four World Twenty20 matches, including a semifinal.
After the Delhi High Court refused to direct the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to provide DDCA with Provisional Occupancy Certificate (POC), there was little chance that the controversial and faction-ridden association would host the slated match.
"We have informed the BCCI today that we will not be able to get the clearance from MCD in time after complying to norms. We told the BCCI officials that we will have all the compliance certificates ready for World T20 but it will not be possible to get clearance before Feb. 12 and then get clearances from state's fire and electrical department," DDCA working president Chetan Chauhan was quoted as saying by NDTV.
Asked if the High Court observation turned out to be an embarrassment for the association which is neck-deep in financial scandals, Chauhan said: "We had to take a chance and that is why we moved High Court. Had we not done that, we would have been criticized for letting the match go.
"At least we tried to organize but in such short time, we would not be able to complete the required 60-point deviations that the MCD has cited. But rest assured we will be ready for the World Cup." — Agencies
