Legendary left-arm spinner and former India captain, Bishan Singh Bedi has asked the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) to remove his name from a stand named at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, formerly known as the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. An honor that he was bestowed with just a little over three years ago at an impressive function.
Bedi, who was the captained of the Delhi Ranji team in two title-winning campaigns in the late 1970s, also renounced his DDCA membership.
“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. I’ve taken this decision with sufficient deliberations,” the Bedi wrote in an email to Rohan Jaitley, the DDCA President late on Tuesday night.
The 74-year old has been angry over the current functioning of DDCA under the new Presidentship of Rohan Jaitley whose late father after whom the stadium has been renamed was a DDCA President. Arun Jaitley had contested against Bishan Singh Bedi for DDCA’s chief post and won in 1999.
The former India captain was also disappointed with the manner in which the Delhi senior selectors for 2020-21 were chosen. Amongst the many questions raised was the age bar that was put in place. The age bar of no one above 60 being able to compete. Former Delhi Ranji Trophy-winning captain Kirti Azad (61) who is close to Bedi had applied for the job, but wasn’t eligible for the same.