'Positive' DDCA hopeful of hosting India-South Africa Test

New Delhi, Nov 16: With just a day left to meet the November 17 deadline set by the BCCI for obtaining all clearances to host the final India-South Africa Test (from December 3), DDCA is racing against time to get the required approvals but officials of the cricket body were hopeful of resolving all the issues.

"We are still in the process of organising everything and I am positive that we will meet the deadline to host the final Test match," DDCA vice-president Chetan Chauhan told PTI.

"We are in the process of getting all the clearances. We are in touch with government officials and will be meeting them today and hopefully things will be resolved," the former India cricketer added.

DDCA President Sneh Prakash Bansal also sounded optimistic about the outcome and is keeping his fingers crossed for the game scheduled to be held at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

"Meetings are taking place. Let's hope that everything falls into place. We are all working towards it," he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had formed a three-member committee to probe complaints of financial irregularities and wrongdoings in the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association and a report is expected soon.

The bone of contention remains the Rs 24.45 crore in entertainment tax slapped by the government on the state body. The entertainment tax is said to have been unpaid since 2012 and the DDCA is hoping to get a tax waiver for the same.

The BCCI has already kept Pune as a back-up venue in case the DDCA fails to meet the deadline for the game starting December 3.

PTI