DDCA given time till Feb 8 to get all the clearances

Even as doubts linger over Delhi and District Cricket Association’s (DDCA) hosting of World T20 matches, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday provided it time till February 8 to procure clearances from various Delhi government civic agencies.

The DDCA has already lost the T20 match against Sri Lanka. The match, scheduled on February 11, has been shifted to Ranchi. 

"As far as the DDCA is concerned, we have discussed the matter at the ICC meeting and it has been decided that the deadline will be extended to February 8 by which they have to get all the required NOCs. In case they fail to get the NOCs, we have a Plan B ready which we will immediately implement. The sale of tickets will kick off from February 9," Thakur told reporters.

Thakur, however, refused to reveal the Plan B.
"If they fail to get the NOCs, we will let you know. Till then please wait."
According to the World T20 schedule, Delhi was to host four matches: England v Qualifier (March 23), England v Sri Lanka (March 26), Sri Lanka v South Africa (March 28), and the first semifinal.

The DDCA officials, meanwhile, are confident of meeting the deadline after getting the compliance certificate on lease assessment from the central government's Land & Development Office (L&DO).

“We are confident that we will get all the clearances on time. We have kept the Board notified of all the progress. We are working towards each and every requirement to host the World T20 matches in Delhi and we have no doubt that we will be able to do it satisfactorily,” a DDCA official said.

Meanwhile, DDCA moved the Delhi High Court on Friday seeking directions to the South municipal corporation to issue it an occupancy certificate to hold the World T20 matches.
DDCA in an application has said it has been granted a no objection certificate (NOC) from Land and Development Officer (L&DO) for getting occupancy or completion certificate from South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and placed the NOC before the court.
The court is expected to hear the matter next week.