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Delhi’s club cricket has always been recognized as the best in India for its sheer competitiveness. Some of the cream of Indian cricket graced Delhi’s club cricket starting from 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev to Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant. All are products of Delhi cricket. The bulk of matches, which a Delhi cricketer gets while playing club cricket is staggering compared to other states, and so their grooming is far better.
However, the way club cricket is positioned now, it is an expensive proposition and could hurt Delhi cricket badly. A domicile certificate being made a must to play the DDCA league has made it tough for young cricketers. To make matters worse, the stiff fees for other tournaments, which form the major component of Delhi’s club cricket, is pinching the younsters.
The club teams are made to play a staggering Rs 65,000 for a knock-out tournament. Generally, 12 to 20 teams are registered for annual local tournaments, and some of the few local clubs, who have been running DDCA teams for many years, are finding it tough to arrange the money. So much so if the players are told to arrange the fees, it becomes a matter of prestige because some of the low-lifes are already into it, charging young cricketers for even playing friendly matches.
A few successful local businessmen, who make teams and offer good money to the local talents, are ruling the roost. The genuine club coaches are finding it tough to put together a team because of a lack of money and some of their players are falling prey to big money offered by the businessmen in Delhi NCR.
It has come to such a pass that some of the coaches have exhausted their funds and wondering what if a talented kid walks in and can’t pay, how will he rub his shoulder against the best in town? The local coaches’ association is planning to meet the DDCA and thrash out the issue.
Amongst those who are loyal to their childhood coaches are willing to pay money from their pocket to continue playing for their club. This can’t go on. With these local tournament organisers increasing their fees by a minimum of Rs 10,000 per year, that day isn’t far off when the famous clubs of Delhi would stop playing these tournaments because of the cash crunch.
With these small-time business houses eyeing only finished products, some of these DDCA clubs are indeed blessings in disguise to promote these young talents through these local tournaments. The role of DDCA would be very crucial, who also gives subsidies to these clubs, and how this problem is tackled without damaging the flow of these tournaments so that it becomes a win-win proposition for all!
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