DDCA still mum on Virender Sehwag felicitation

Virender Sehwag

New Delhi: The Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) is still mum on whether it would arrange a felicitation ceremony for the retired legend Virender Sehwag, with their standard answer being "no communication from BCCI".


Virender Sehwag

It was learnt that just like BCCI felicitated Zaheer Khan in Mumbai at the end of the ODI series, Sehwag would be honoured in Delhi. It is still not known whether Sehwag will play Haryana's last Ranji Trophy match against Vidarbha (which could be the final competitive first class match of his career) starting today. However, neither working president Chetan Chauhan nor High Court-appointed observer Mukul Mudgal could throw any light on the issue.

As promised earlier, the DDCA is yet to name a gate or stand at the Kotla after the greatest ever cricketer to have emerged from the state. It now appears that they may not be felicitating him at all. "We have not received any communication from BCCI in this regard," Chauhan told mediapersons. Justice Mudgal, on his part, said that he has received information about the "Delhi administration (government) wanting to felicitate the World Cup winning teams of 1983 and 2011".

"But I do not know what will be the modalities," he said. "As of now all former Ranji and international cricketers will be sent complimentary passes. We are waiting for the Entertainment tax officer to stamp those tickets," Mudgal said. DDCA treasurer Ravinder Manchanda said that BCCI will soon release grant in excess of Rs 20 crore, which also includes their share of broadcasting rights.

"We are in the process of getting our balance sheet for the 2014-15 signed and BCCI will disburse the fund," said Manchanda. "We are also getting Rs 85 lakh from 'Book My show' for the sale of tickets during the ODI match against West Indies last year. The Central Bank account of DDCA has Rs 6.5 crore fund. We have already started paying the match fees of the Delhi's Ranji players," Manchanda said.