Delhi cricket body's legal expenses trump league cricket outlay

New Delhi: The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) League matches are far from perfect. There is no provision for two-day matches, and there is also this concern of grounds lying at a distance for cricketers.

So there have been calls for investments on improving not just the structure but also facilities.

But is the DDCA really serious about it?

Well, the association’s annual report seems to suggest otherwise.

The money spent on League matches is Rs 4.21 crore (Rs 421.19 lakh). You could argue that it is a big amount.

But wait until you hear the amount spent by DDCA on legal expenses. It is Rs 7.40 crore (Rs 740.26 lakh)!

This amount apart, there is also sizeable amount shown under Retainership/Professional Expenses. That is Rs 3.23 crore (Rs 322.58 lakh). This retainership or professional fees is related to money paid for legal expertise.

This takes the total amount on legal expenses to over Rs 10 crore.

Years ago, former India skipper, late Bishan Singh Bedi and former India cricketer Kirti Azad had raised concerns over payment of about Rs 2 crore in legal fees when many of the cases were fought among the constituents of DDCA.

They had raised questions over wastage of money under the head. The money spent on legal fees has increased over the years, becoming almost four-fold.

The DDCA also has an Ombudsman MM Kumar who has been re-appointed. Questions have been raised over his relevance and utility by certain DDCA members.

In fact, barring the expenses on Delhi Premier League (DPL) – which comes to Rs 5,457.51 lakh (Rs 54.6 crore), there is no expense bigger than the legal expenditure. DPL has, however, given an income of Rs 5,994.99 lakh (Approx. Rs 60 crore).

It should be noted that for the year 2024-25, DDCA has incurred total expenses of Rs 15,281.99 lakh or 153 crore approximately. The income for DDCA has been Rs 20,880.83 lakh or Rs 208 crore. The association is carrying a surplus of Rs 5,598.84 lakh or Rs 56 crore into the next year.

Out of the Rs 208 crore income, the DDCA has received Rs 11,500 lakh in subvention from BCCI which translates to 115 in crores.

Here is the list of total expenses incurred by DDCA:

Employee Benefit Expenses:

Salaries, Wages, Gratuity etc (Rs 1,352.42 lakh or Rs 13.5 crore), Contribution to provident fund (Rs 23.36 lakh), staff welfare expense (Rs 27.41)

Contribution to Provident and other funds (Rs 23.36 lakh)

Staff Welfare Expenses (Rs 27.41 lakh)

Finance Expenses:

Bank Charges (Rs 0.39 lakh)

Depreciation:

Rs 2,307.82 lakh or Rs 23 crore

Increase in stock of consumables:

Rs 27.90 lakh

Other Expenses:

Power and Fuel (Rs 272.65 lakh or Rs 2.73 crore), Repairs and Maintenance of building and others (Rs 200.93 lakh or Rs 2 crore), Club maintenance (Rs 58.64 lakh), Insurance (Rs 19.37 lakh), Rates and Taxes (Rs 131.09 lakh or Rs 1.31 crore), Playing cards (Rs 0.89 lakh), Bar expenses (Rs 7.59 lakh), Cricket promotion expenses (Rs 38.65 lakh), Pension/Honorarium (Rs 52 lakh), Delhi Premier League (Rs 5471.51 lakh or Rs 54.71 crore)

Tournament & Match expenses:

League matches (Rs 421.19 lakh or Rs 4.21 crore), CK Nayudu Trophy and Under-25 One Day Trophy (Rs 327.66 lakh or Rs 3.28 crore), Cooch Behar Trophy (Rs 302.18 lakh or Rs 3 crore), Indian Premier League - IPL (200.80 lakh or Rs 2 crore), Women’s Premier League - WPL (Rs 15.23 lakh), International matches (Rs 301.77 lakh or Rs 3 crore), Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (Rs 267.73 lakh or Rs 2.68 crore), Ranji Trophy matches (Rs 319.99 lakh or Rs 3.2 crore), Vijay Hazare Trophy (Rs 235.33 lakh or Rs 2.35 crore), Vijay Merchant Trophy (Rs 242.30 lakh or Rs 2.42 crore), Vinoo Mankad Trophy (Rs 240.89 lakh or Rs 2.4 crore), Women Cricket Tournaments (Rs 532.36 lakh or Rs 5.3 crore), Other matches/Tournaments (Rs 60 lakh), Match Fees Season (Rs 583.64 lakh or Rs 5.84 crore), AGM/EGM/Election Expenses (Rs 84 lakh), Security expenses (Rs 82.54 lakh), Donation and charitable expenses (Rs 0.53 lakh), Legal expenses (Rs 740.26 lakh or Rs 7.4 crore), Retainership/professional expenses (Rs 322.58 lakh or Rs 3.22 crore)

Payment to auditors

Statutory Audit Fee (Rs 5 lakh), Out of pocket expenses (Rs 0.98 lakh), Advances/recoverable written off (Rs 1.05 lakh), Other miscellaneous expenses (Rs 71.14 lakh)

Total expenses (sum of all expenses)

Rs 15,281.99 lakh or Rs 153 crore approx.

Tags : DDCA, cricket, Delhi, DPL, IPL, WPL