All former Delhi players to be granted DDCA membership

Have Delhi former international and state cricketers (men and women) lost a golden opportunity to cast their votes in the upcoming June 30 elections?

Going by the voters list prepared by the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA), this seems to be true as only a few former players – none from recent times – will be able to cast their votes in the first ever "proxy free" elections.

This, when for the first time a player of repute like Madan Lal has decided to run for the top post against so-called power-hungry cricket administrators.

Now that the SC-appointed Committee of Administrators (COA) has written to all the state cricket associations "to grant membership with voting rights to all the former players (men and women)", DDCA administrator and former retired SC judge Justice (retd) Vikramjit Singh Sen has called upon all the Delhi players to immediately apply for their right.

"I've publicly told every player that they are welcome to apply for DDCA membership. But no application till date has reached my office," Justice Sen told DNA on Monday.

There seems to be a complete confusion in this regard amongst Delhi players. "We never heard about any such suggestion by Justice Sen," was how one former international player reacted.

However, Justice Sen insisted that "he also announced the same during the felicitation function conducted by DDCA a few months back but got no response from players".

When asked specifically whether players who would be granted membership now after this date will be given voting right or not, Justice Sen said: "I don't know whether voting right will be given or not because elections have been announced. Any player who has represented Delhi in Ranji Trophy or has played for India should immediately apply for full membership. Whether or not they will be able to vote this time around is something we can deliberate, but I will ensure that all such players, who apply now, will be granted the membership without any delay."

Going by the COA letter sent to all the states, there seems to be no confusion that all former international players are entitled to vote in state elections.

"It is mandatory for all state associations (including those which have only representatives of district associations or clubs as voting members in the General Body) to grant membership with voting rights to former international players (men and women) hailing from the state," the COA letter stated.

"Membership with voting rights should be granted to former international players (men and women) hailing from the State prior to conduct of elections such that they shall be entitled to vote in the said elections. A list of all such former international players (men and women) who have been granted membership with voting rights shall be provided to the Committee of Administrators and put up on the website of the State Association prior to finalisation of the electoral roll of the State Association by the electoral officer so that any former international players (men and women) who may have been missed out have an opportunity to have their name included therein," it added.

It is also important to mention here that Justice Lodha panel recommendations have also suggested full membership to all the first-class players in their respective state associations.