Taking cue from prime minister Narendra Modi's Clean India campaign, former cricketer Bishen Singh Bedi, along with first-class and club cricketers, with brooms in their hands launched clean Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) campaign here at the Feroze Shah Kotla on Wednesday.
Bedi and others also plan to approach Modi and seek his help in setting the DDCA in order.
DDCA has been in the news recently after its president Sneh Bansal and general secretary Anil Khanna were sacked by the executive board for alleged misappropriation and siphoning off of funds.
The group then marched to the area police station and lodged a complaint and submitted a copy of DDCA's fact finding report that highlighted many corruption cases.
Delhi cricket has been paralysed following this corruption scandal and even the local league matches have been suspended for non-payment of dues.
"This was an opportune time for us to launch this campaign. We have been battling for long and I must say this is just tip of the iceberg. It will take years to clean this mess in DDCA but we need support from all. Look at the woes of the staff. The crores of rupees have been siphoned off by its president and secretary but these poor staff workers have not been paid," said Bedi.
Disturbed by the deterioration of cricket culture at the DDCA, Bedi announced that "he will seek an appointment with the prime minister".
"Our PM has been campaigning for a Clean India. We cricketers will ask him to clean cricket in Delhi and India too. This corruption should end or this beautiful game will die," added the legendary spinner.
Former India stumper Surinder Khanna said he was appalled at the brazen manner in which cricketers are humiliated by the DDCA. "There is no respect for cricket and cricketers at the Kotla. The junior selectors indulge in corruption and in the process the game is suffering," he said.
The National Capital Territory Cricket Association (NCTCA) secretary Sameer Bahadur promised a "fight to finish" this time.
"We are not targeting any individual. These corrupt officials have been in power for years and it is time the mess is cleaned up."
The entire DDCA staff also staged a dharna inside the Kotla premises on Wednesday to demand outstanding wages. "We have not been paid our salaries and overtime fees for our work during the last season, including the IPL matches," said an employee.
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