Funds being mismanaged in DDCA: Azad

World Cup winner Kirti Azad has raised the issue of mismanagement of funds in the run-up to the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) elections. Azad, who is the TMC Member of Parliament from Bardhaman-Durgapur, is fighting against sitting DDCA president Rohan Jaitley in the elections that will be held from December 13 to 15.

Speaking to the media ahead of the polls, the former all-rounder, who was a member of the 1983 World Cup winning team, alleged that funds have been mismanaged by officials. “It may cost Rs 1 crore maximum (on the outer side) to install a lift. But there is a request for Rs 29 crore,” Azad said before questioning the DDCA officials for some lopsided selections of the Delhi teams.

He also highlighted that the DDCA needs a proper audit after suggesting grants and funds from the BCCI have been wasted.

“The members of the DDCA have long been denied their rightful status. The grants that the association has been receiving have been mismanaged. There is no proper auditing of the books of accounts. Members of the association have borne the brunt of facilities being denied which is rightfully theirs. More importantly, the DDCA, under Rohan Jailed, has failed to upgrade the stadium infrastructure as was promised,” he said.

There are three groups fighting the elections this time. Apart from the Kirti Azad-Sanjay Hardwar panel and the one led by Jaitley, the other panel is being led by Vinod Tiara, who has not filed nomination for the president’s post.