Mudgal gives up fees to help cash-strapped Delhi cricket body

NEW DELHI: Delhi’s cash-strapped cricket association has received a fund boost from within. Justice (retd) Mukul Mudgal, its Delhi high court-appointed observer, has given up his fees, which runs into a few lakhs.

The Supreme Court order last month bars state units from accessing BCCI funds until they agree to implement the Lodha committee recommendations for reforms. In DDCA though, the fund crunch is self-made as well. The faction-ridden body doesn’t receive funds from the board regularly because it does not promptly file returns.

Before last month’s Delhi ODI against New Zealand, the unit had made an urgent plea for funds. However, it eventually had a revenue of `5 crore from the game, including `3.09 crore from ticket sales.

Mudgal’s fees from DDCA is `1 lakh a day, which some in the association have dubbed “unnecessary expenditure”. He has now decided not to accept remuneration to help the association tide over its financial situation.

Its treasurer, Ravinder Manchanda, said: “The fees for him and his team would have come to about `12-14 lakh. Now, only IP Singh (retired deputy CAG) will have to be paid (about `3.5 lakh).”

Though the major state body has received huge sums as subvention money from BCCI in the past few years, officials claim it is currently cash-strapped. Manchanda said: “We’re facing cash crunch but thankfully Mr Mudgal and his team have told us they won’t charge a penny for this game.”

DDCA have received funds from the board only in parts due to their failure in promptly submitting accounts to the board. This year, they received about `11 crore from BCCI primarily for staging the World T20 games, but a big chunk of that money went for paying dues.

MUDGAL’S FEES IS `1 LAKH A DAY, WHICH SOME IN DDCA HAVE DUBBED “UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURE”