New Delhi: Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) finally settled pending dues of some of the state's biggest players.
Leading the list was India's Test skipper Virat Kohli who was paid Rs 176,400 for captaining Delhi team in the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy in 2013.
According to a report in the Times of India, regular Delhi players received their payments for 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons only this year.
Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan's fees of Rs 237,600 for playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy last year were cleared.
Virender Sehwag, who left Delhi to play for Haryana after 2014-15 season, too received Rs 9,000 as outstanding balance. Viru's former opening partner Gautam Gambhir was paid Rs 4,500 in pending fees.
Regular state players are yet to receive their payments for the 2015-16. Interestingly, most of the cricketers paid by DDCA are either non-regulars or junior cricketers.
“The bills from these big names were lying with the association for years. If there is surplus money in the association, there's no harm in clearing out as much payment as possible. The association can settle its account once the money comes from BCCI,“ DDCA treasurer Ravinder Manchanda told TOI.
Coach Vijay Dahiya's payments, except for last season, have been cleared. The former India wicketkeeper will get the remaining amount once BCCI sends funds to DDCA.
“These payments are made from the profits the DDCA has made by hosting World T20 and IPL matches this year. Since we haven't submitted the balance sheets yet, the BCCI can't sanction the money or the fees. But it was only fair to clear the long pending dues of those who don't play for Delhi so often. Once the grants come from the board, we will clear the fees of the rest of the players,“ Manchanda further added.
Since the assocation did not forward balance sheets to BCCI, Delhi players had play without being paid for three years.
