The second T20 International between India and Sri lanka on February 12 was on Friday shifted from Delhi to Ranchi after the DDCA expressed its inability to host the match following a snub from the Delhi High Court.
"...The venue of the second Twenty20 International match of the three-match home series against Sri lanka has been shifted from Delhi to Ranchi," BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur said in a statement.
After the Delhi High Court refused to direct the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to provide DDCA with Provisional Occupancy Certificate (POC), there was little chance that the controversial and faction-ridden association would host the slated match.
"We have informed the BCCI today that we will not be able to get the clearance from MCD in time after complying to norms. We told the BCCI officials that we will have all the compliance certificates ready for World T20 but it will not be possible to get clearance before February 12 and then get clearances from state's fire and electrical department," DDCA working president Chetan Chauhan said.
Asked if the High Court observation turned out to be an embarrassment for the association which is neck-deep in financial scandals, Chauhan said: "We had to take a chance and that is why we moved High Court. Had we not done that, we would have been criticised for letting the match go.
"At least we tried to organise but in such short time, we would not be able to complete the required 60-point deviations that the MCD has cited. But rest assured we will be ready for the World Cup."
Thakur’s ultimatum
Delhi faces the prospect of losing the hosting rights of all its share of ICC World T20 matches, including the marquee semi-final, if the faction-ridden DDCA fails to procure the mandatory NOCs from competent authorities by January 31, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said.
With the High Court refusing to give directive to Municipal Corporation of Delhi for giving Provisional occupancy Certificate (POC) required for hosting the match, the BCCI has already shifted the second T20 International of the India-Sri lanka series from Feroz Shah Kotla to Ranchi.
"As far as the World T20 is concerned, we have given DDCA a deadline till January 31 to procure all the necessary NOCs failing which the seven allotted matches will be shifted to other venues with each of them getting a match," Thakur told reporters here.
"I have told them to provide us with all the permissions in writing. If they don't come with NOC by 5 pm on January 31st, matches will be shifted," he further added.
The two-day deadline given by the BCCI virtually makes it impossible for DDCA to get the MCD and others clearances as January 30th and 31 are weekends with all state government offices closed.