Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) may have passed the test of an international fixture but it has not managed to get the full marks. The much-maligned Feroz Shah Kotla pitch held true during the West Indies-South Africa match on Thursday, but there apparently was trouble elsewhere in the stadium. Some top officials of the International Cricket Council (ICC) were denied entry into the stadium during the match.
According to sources, Haroon Lorgat was held up outside the Kotla for want of ‘identity’. The police did not allowthe ICC chief executive into the stadium and sources say the official had to wait for about 40 minutes to get in.
Besides, the organisers failed to extend proper hospitality as caterers were not allowed to enter the stadium. But a top DDCA official put up a brave front stating that Lorgat’s accreditation was not working and the police did not have any idea who he was.
“We’re sad for whatever has happened, but Haroon Lorgat is no Sachin Tendulkar,” Sunil Dev, secretary of the DDCA’s sports committee, said. “He was holding an accreditation card, which was not prepared by the DDCA. The ICC got them done by an agency. The police could not recognise Lorgat and the sensors were not accepting the card,” Dev said.
The Kotla is to host its next match, between the West Indies and the Netherlands, on Monday. India are scheduled to play the Dutch in the Capital on March 9.
Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India expressed ignorance over problems during the Delhi match. “We’ve not received any communication from the ICC or Haroon,” BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said. Lorgat was not available for comment on the controversy but sources indicate that the ICC chief executive is likely to address the issue at a media conference in Bangalore on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the BCCI has revealed that it has allotted a couple of international matches to Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The venue lost out on hosting the India-England World Cup match due to lack of preparedness, but the BCCI has compensated it with another India-England fixtures. Kolkata will now host a Twenty20 match when England tour India later this the year. The Board has also allotted an ODI and it could be against West Indies, who are scheduled to visit India later this year.
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