New Delhi, Dec 29 (Inditop.com) Chaos and anarchy was the order of the day at the Ferozeshah Kotla as Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) members traded charges at a stormy Annual General Meeting (AGM) here Tuesday.
Former Test cricketer and Lok Sabha member Kirti Azad said he was insulted and interrupted when he tried to raise at the AGM the issue of Sunday’s fiasco at Ferozeshah Kotla which led to the abandonment of the fifth India-Sri Lanka one-dayer.
Azad, who first told the media that he was roughed up at the meeting, retracted a little later to say he was only interrupted from raising uncomfortable questions but others were manhandled when they rose in his support.
DDCA Sports Secretary Sunil Dev refuted Azad’s charge and challenged him to prove that he was manhandled.
“If it is proved that Kirti was roughed up, I would quit the DDCA,” said Dev, a former vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and manager of the Twenty20 World Championship winning team.
“In fact, Azad spoke not once, twice, but four times during the meeting before walking out,” Dev said.
After walking out of the meeting, Azad said some unruly members objected to his going to the media criticising the DDCA, but insisted, as a member, he had every right to speak on the affairs of the association.
“I was not manhandled, but I was interrupted as I wanted to know what happened Sunday, but a couple of others were roughed up. Supporters of the ruling group objected to my going to the media attacking the DDCA for Sunday’s happenings. I stood my ground and said I have every right to express my views. For me, the DDCA is a temple as I have been playing at the Kotla from 1970,” he said.
Samir Mehta, a life-time member of the DDCA, backed Azad’s claims and said: “When one member, Sunil Goel, raised his questions he was warned by Vinod Tihara (controversial sports committee member) and was asked not to raise such questions.”
Azad added: “The state of affairs in the DDCA is very disappointing and distressing. I think we have to start somewhere to cleanse the system. If I begin, then others will follow.”
Azad said the executive committee should own up responsibility and resign but praised his senior Bharatiya Janata Party colleague and DDCA president Arun Jaitley, saying he is an honest man but he should take control of the association and keep the corrupt elements out.
“I have all respect for Jaitley. He is an honest man but he is not able to manage the DDCA officials,” Azad said.
“It is a corrupt association and two proxy groups work hand in glove. They appoint their own managers, coaches and run the show.”
When asked what was discussed at the meeting, Dev shot back: “What do you discuss at an AGM? Accounts, facilities and other cricket aspects. Kotla was also discussed, obviously the members were concerned about the happenings. The meeting went off peacefully.”
DDCA vice-president Chetan Chauhan also refuted all charges made by Azad and said: “We will try to pacify Mr. Azad. He is an old member of the DDCA and important part of the association. We have also received the BCCI showcause notice on the Sunday’s incident and we will reply soon.”
Meanwhile, the balance sheet for 2008-09 was passed and Ravi Jain, Dinesh Jain, Anil Gupta, Brij Mohan Gupta, Ashish Makhija, V.N. Agarwal and Vivek Gupta were elected to the 24-member board of directors.
