Kejriwal, while appreciating former cricketers' concern over the health of cricket in the Capital, also promised to set up a 'Commission of Inquiry' since selection of Delhi teams is a "state function".
It was a day to remember as four former Delhi cricket captains led by Bishan Singh Bedi requested the chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to open another front against cricket corruption in the Capital city on Monday.
And Kejriwal, known for his tough posturing against corruption, minced no words while promising a 'Commission of Inquiry' soon in order to look into the allegations of corrupt practices not only in financial matters but also in team selection.
The former India captain, along with Madan Lal, Surinder Khanna and Akash Lal, handed over a 600-page dossier to the Delhi CM to attract his attention on how slowly talented cricketers of Delhi are getting sidelined because of the "money and muscle power" being used by Delhi & District Cricket Association's (DDCA) office-bearers.
Kejriwal, while appreciating former cricketers' concern over the health of cricket in the Capital, also promised to set up a 'Commission of Inquiry' since selection of Delhi teams is a "state function".
"I will explore ways to utilise the services of eminent senior cricketers and coaches to bring transparency and integrity in the functioning of DDCA," Kejriwal told dna after the meeting on Monday.
It was also brought to the CM's knowledge that despite many complaints relating to age fraud in selection matters and financial bungling against senior DDCA officials, the Delhi Police have been extremely soft on these corrupt officials because of political patronage. "The overaged players being allowed in various age-group teams in Delhi is killing our cricket. We're losing so many talented cricketers to various other states because they don't find a place in Delhi teams. This has to be stopped immediately or cricket in the Capital will be finished soon," legendary spinner Bedi told Kejriwal.
The Delhi CM showed his concern over how a player of the stature of Virender Sehwag has migrated to neighbouring state Haryana recently.
"Please come up with a blueprint on how to improve cricket and revitalise cricket at the grassroots and provide a fair opportunity to all the talented cricketers who aspire to play for Delhi and through Delhi, for India. We can at least start with this step and utilise cricketers like you to make cricket vibrant at our school and college levels," Kejriwal asked Bedi.
Another positive outcome from this meeting was to nominate former cricketers to oversee the DDCA team selection matters. "A committee is likely to be nominated to keep a check on selection frauds in various teams. This committee will be asked to submit its report to the Delhi government," said former India wicketkeeper Khanna.
It must be mentioned that it was during the previous UPA government that Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) indicted the DDCA management on 35 counts and advised the Registrar of Companies to initiate action then. However, DDCA top officials got off the hook by taking advantage of old law in which "compounding" was allowed.
"DDCA has got something like Rs450 crore from BCCI in the last decade or so. But the money was not spent on cricket-related activities, which is mandatory as per BCCI's own rules. Rather, the money was being round tripped into the account of the key office bearers by presenting fake and exaggerated bills," alleged a senior DDCA official Sameer Bahadur.
Last but not the least, Kejriwal was shocked to learn about the flouting of Excise policy in serving liquor on Gandhi Jayanti (October 2, 2013) inside the Ferozeshah Kotla premises.
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