New Delhi: The current crisis in the Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) could deprive Delhi residents the chance to watch their Indian Premier League (IPL) team Delhi Daredevils (DD) at the Feroz Shah Kotla in the upcoming season.
According to a report in the Times of India, the GMR Group-owned franchise has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and IPL Governing Council (GC) for two venues – Indore and Raipur – as back up options to host their home matches in the league this season.
On Friday, the Indian board shifted the venue of the 2nd T20I between India and Sri Lanka from Delhi to Ranchi and now it is considering taking the World T20 matches out of the capital as well.
Apart from writing to the GC requesting clarity on the current situation, the DD management has requested for a meeting with BCCI and DDCA officials as soon as possible in order to assess the problems at the faction-ridden association.
"Why should we not play in Delhi if everything is alright? After all, Delhi is our home. But we also have to be sure of the circumstances. With all that is happening in DDCA, we either want BCCI to give us complete clarity or allow us to shift the matches. But playing in Delhi certainly remains our first choice," a DD spokesperson told TOI.
Having played some matches at Raipur in previous editions, DD will have no problems in hosting matches there. However, team officials visited the stadium at Indore to inspect the facilities.
"Our immediate worry is that if we don't play in Delhi, then alternate venues should be kept aside for us in advance. That's what we've conveyed to the governing council," the spokesperson added.
Delhi High Court on Friday refused to direct the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to provide them with Provisional Occupancy Certificate (POC) for the controversial faction-ridden association to host the 2nd T20I between India and SL.
