Kirti Azad sounds the bugle, promises change in DDCA

Former India cricketer and member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team Kirti Azad has questioned the use of BCCI funds by the current dispensation at the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) and called on club members to vote for him and his panel in the upcoming elections as he promises to uplift the facilities for them and help develop state-of-the-art cricket academies in all nine districts of the Capital.

Azad pointed out that DDCA gets Rs 140 crore annually and hardly five per cent of it gets used for cricketing activities.

“DDCA gets 140 crore rupees every year from BCCI which comes to Rs 12 crore every month, Rs 40 lakh every day,” said Azad while addressing the media at the Constitution Club on Tuesday evening.

“The expenditure on cricket was just Rs 7 crore.”

Sudhir Kumar Aggarwal, who is fighting for the post of Vice-President and is a chartered accountant, pointed to the balance sheet.

“The expenditure on sports was Rs 7 crore last year and this year it was only Rs 5.5 crore,” said Aggarwal.

(L-R) Sudhir K Agarwal,Sanjay Bhardwaj, Kirti Azad and Kamal Chopra

Azad also lambasted the DDCA for not looking after the members and providing facilities to groom upcoming players.

“There are many facilities at the Constitution Club here -- restaurants, auditorium, swimming pool, gym and badminton courts. They run through the subscription fees that we parliamentarians pay. We get facilities like those for hosting wedding, subsidised food. There are many clubs in Delhi that provide facilities despite running on membership subscriptions.

“But DDCA gets Rs 140 crore from BCCI, gives nothing in terms of facilities – no swimming pool, no badminton court, no restaurant, no bar, no lounge, and no kitchen. The restaurant there has few seats, some of which are close to the toilet. The bar, the card room are poor. This despite DDCA getting Rs 40 lakh a day.”

Azad, who is fighting for President's post against Rohan Jaitley, said that it has been his long-cherished dream to set up a cricket academy in every district of Delhi.

WATCH | Kirti Azad panel reveals DDCA balance sheet

“We along with Bishan Singh Bedi had desired to set up an academy in each of the nine districts where children should get free coaching.”

He questioned the Rohan Jaitley-led dispensation for not investing enough in cricket.

“If the DDCA gets Rs 40 lakh per day then they should invest at least Rs 40 lakh per month on each of the academy, meaning three crore 60 lakh per month on all nine academies so that we can groom promising cricketers.”

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament (MP) also said that he hopes to revamp selection panels and bring in coaches in the proposed academies.

“We plan to form good selection committees. The nine academies we plan to start will have all the facilities like experienced coaches, grounds that we will maintain, doctors, physios, batting, bowling and fielding coaches, head coach so that every child in Delhi gets state-of-the-art facilities.”

He also promised to dedicate a section to DDCA members.

(L-R) Naveen Jindal, Kirti Azad and Sanjay Bhardwaj

“You get separate sections with facilities for members in every stadium of the world, but not in DDCA. All they give us are two passes -- for Gates No. 17 and 18. I am dreaming of making Willingdon Pavilion for members like Roshanara Club was. Ex-cricketers and members should come there and sit and avail the facilities.”

He and Aggarwal also reiterated the point he made last month while filing his nomination regarding the lack of signing authority on balance sheets.

They pointed that as per the laws, it is mandatory for the Secretary, Treasurer and President to sign the annual audited accounts and other financial statements of the DDCA.

“The balance sheets haven’t been signed by treasurer. The secretary Siddharth Sahib Singh has written to the Election Officer that he has neither seen the papers nor signed them,” said Aggarwal.

 

Here are some of the other points raised by the Kirti Azad:

On Selections

There was a time when every team would be scared of the Delhi team. But what has happened now? Eighty four players were shortlisted for Ranji Trophy, it is on record. Thirty four players played in Ranji Trophy. Thirty players travelled with the under-19 squad. From 1976-77 till 1992-93 when I played last, there must have been only 40 players overall who played. They played 34 this season alone.

They don’t play deserving players because if they play them and reach quarterfinals, they will have to play them and not the players through which they collect vote. Money is being taken for selections.

On Stadium

Narendra Modi Stadium’s one end to the other is 750 metres which is 3/4th of a kilometre. As many as 1.5 lakh people can sit there. DDCA's (Arun Jaitley Stadium) one end to the other is 350 metres. But only 30,000 people sit there. It means the Ahmedabad stadium accommodates five times more despite being only double the size.

In Ahmedabad, which is 1.5 km (750 metres on either side), [flood]lights were installed for Rs 7.5 crore. DDCA has got them for Rs 17.5 crore. The eight lifts there should have cost at the most Rs 8 crore but they have cost Rs 19 crore.

In IPL, the franchise pays a crore for each of the matches. The deal means you give the stadium on 'as is where is' basis and take money. DDCA got Rs 8 crore in all. However, the DDCA balance sheet is showing that Rs 6.6 crore was spent from the IPL money. Where has the money gone.

Here are some of the other points raised by Vice-Presidential candidate Sudhir K Aggarwal:

The President, Secretary, and Treasurer have to sign the balance sheets but neither the treasurer nor the secretary have signed.

Rs 9 crore, 74 lakh and 11,000 were paid in salaries last year and the same is being paid this year. How is it possible. It means everyone worked for the same number of days, nobody quit, retired and nobody was hired.

Expenditure on sports was Rs 7 crore last year and this year it was only Rs 5.5 crore (out of Rs 140 crore the DDCA gets). Last year, Rs 69 lakh was spent on repairs and maintenance but Rs 9 crore 45 lakh has been spent this year. Legal expenses are Rs 3.88 crore.

Tags : Delhi cricket, DDCA, Kirti Azad, elections, Rohan Jaitley, Sanjay Bhardwaj, Narendra Modi Stadium