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Factional politics! BCCI-AAP turf war leaves former greats stranded

Rohan Raj | Updated on: 14 February 2017, 12:00 IST

Former World Cup-winning cricketers from Delhi were left stranded during the third day's play of the 4th Test between India and South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium, when factional politics between Aam Admi Party (AAP) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) spoiled the plan to felicitate 10 cricket legends.

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Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal insisted on having the state government felicitate the former Indian greats on the field of play at Kotla. However, the permission was denied by Justice Mukul Mudgal, who is currently in charge of overseeing the proceedings in the fourth Test under the aegis of the high court.

The Delhi government had decided to honor two former Indian captains, hailing from Delhi - Amnsur Ali Khan Pataudi and Bishan Singh Bedi - along with nine members (all Delhiites) of the two World Cup-winning teams from 1983 and 2011.

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While AAP government officials have claimed that the permission was denied at the last minute, BCCI sources said that the event was an attempt to stir factional equations.

AAP attacks Indian cricket board

Speaking on behalf of the Delhi government, AAP's Rahul Mehra said, "On Friday, deputy CM Manish Sisodia and officials from the department of sports and educations reached the venue, and accreditation cards and parking stickers had been issued to the invitees. Everything had been agreed upon...what when wrong at the last minute?"

Mehra also revealed that he tried to get in touch with BCCI chief Shashank Manohar at 6:40am but could not get through despite repetitive phone calls.

"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. It stated that it cannot allow anything inside the field of play," DDCA treasurer Ravinder Manchanda said.

Justice Mudgal not to be blamed

After having played a pivotal role in the IPL match-fixing probe, Justice Mukul Mudgal was asked by the high court to undertake the responsibility of conducting the fourth Test between India and South Africa following reports of widespread corruption in the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA).

According to Mudgal, Kejriwal wanted to hold the state felicitation ceremony on the playing field but he had to deny the permission as per BCCI directives. He also made public the messages he exchanged with Rahul Mehra, who spoke to him on behalf of the Delhi CM.

"Rahul was sending me the messages of the Chief Minister 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 the DDCA is bound by the BCCI's directive which cannot be changed," Mudgal revealed.

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

Anurag Thakur to blame?

The National Cricket Territory (NCT) CA secretary Sameer Bahadur revealed that the Delhi government were trying to rope in Harsha Bhogle with the help of Star TV to host the felicitation ceremony.

But director of communications, Amrit Mathur, who was mediating with the Delhi government, asked them to furnish a formal letter and to specifically mention that the ceremony was going to take place on the ground.

The secretary of the Delhi government forwarded a formal letter for the same. BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur stepped up and ensured that the ceremony did not take place.

"Almost simultaneously, Shashank Manohar - who had earlier called the felicitation ceremony a good idea - started avoiding Rahul Mehra's calls. His wife kept repeating that Shashank would be available in 10 minutes. Nearly 15 calls in 25 minutes went unanswered, and when the final call was answered, Mrs Manohar informed Mehra that Shashank had in fact, left," Bahadur said.

First published: 6 December 2015, 5:01 IST
 
Rohan Raj @ro4an_raj

After a poor stint in gully-cricket quashed his hopes of turning pro, Rohan moved away from the playing field and began criticising those who were still on it. Football eases his mind and watching City paint Manchester blue is his elusive dream. When not talking, thinking or dreaming about sports, Rohan can be found listening to EDM or watching movies. A sports correspondent at Catch News, he has previously worked with Hindustan Times, Daily Bhaskar and India Today.