Bishan Singh Bedi Quits Delhi Cricket Board Over Arun Jaitley’s Statue

Veteran cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi has slammed the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). The reason behind his ire is the decision of the DDCA to install a statue of its former President Arun Jaitley at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground. Bedi has alleged that the DDCA is promoting nepotism. The spin legend asked the body to remove his name from the spectators’ stand, named after him in 2017.

Former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi has written to Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley. He wrote, “I pride myself as a man of immense tolerance and patience… but all that I’m afraid, is running out. DDCA has truly tested me and forced me to take this drastic action. So, Mr President, I request you to remove my name from the stand named after me with immediate effect. Also, I hereby renounce my DDCA membership”.

“My reservations about the choice of people Jaitley as the President hand-picked to run the day to day affairs of DDCA is well known. I remember walking out from a meeting at his residence whence he was unable to throw out a rowdy element using terribly foul language,” Bedi explained.

He further alleged that “Sporting arenas need sporting role models. The place of the administrators is in their glass cabins. Bedi pointed out that in almost every great cricket venue around the world, it’s eminent players who are honoured. Since DDCA doesn’t understand this universal sporting culture, I need to walk out of it.”