Debt-ridden DDCA appeals to Delhi CM, banks on BCCI to host Kotla Test match

THE DELHI DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION (DDCA) has encountered a new roadblock in its bid to host the fourth and final Test between India and South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.

An assessment order dated October 21, 2015 has been directed to the DDCA, asking them to pay Rs. 24.45 crore as entertainment tax within 15 days from the receipt. If the DDCA fails to do so, ‘necessary action will be initiated under the provisions of the Delhi Entertainments and Betting Tax Act 1996’.

The DDCA has agreed to pay approximately Rs. 1 crore as advance entertainment tax for the fourth Test. However, they're worried that the excise, entertainment and luxury tax office that Delhi government won't allow them because of pending dues.

According to a report in The Indian Express, a source in the government said an official decision on clearance for the Kotla Test will be taken by the tax office once the DDCA makes an official appeal.

“DDCA has the option of appealing to the commissioner of entertainment tax. As of now they have to follow the directions of the assessment order,” the government source said.

Ravinder Manchanda, treasurer of the DDCA has said that an appeal would be made to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

“I will make an appeal to the chief minister of Delhi to give us more time to sort out the entertainment tax issue. I hope to meet the chief minister and request him to ensure that the clearance is received from the entertainment tax office for the conduct of the Test match against South Africa. At the moment we don’t want to go to court against the assessment order because it will be time consuming. The Test match is just over a month away and I hope the DDCA gets all the necessary clearances,” Manchanda said.

The DDCA's functioning has been disrupted by a number of factors such as corruption, misuse of funds involving senior officials that has resulted in the freezing of the association's bank account.

In addition, the association is yet to submit a balance sheet of two years to the BCCI, which has led to the Indian board declining to release subvention money. The DDCA earlier opted out of hosting the T20 warm-up game, and the match was played at the Air Force Ground at Palam instead.

Earlier in August, the BCCI had released an amount of Rs. 4 crore to the DDCA after an appeal from the state association was made to pay pending fees to umpires, scorers and players. Whether the BCCI will lend a helping hand to the DDCA once again remains to be seen.

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