DDCA gets 'conditional nod' to host India-SA fourth Test

Removing the final stumbling block to host the fourth Test between India and South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, the Delhi High Court on Thursday issued a directive to the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) to deposit a sum of one crore rupees as entertainment tax with the state government in two installments.

"The outcome is that the learned judges have agreed to our request. The Delhi government will not create any hindrance on account of the match. They will allow the match to take place. The learned court has said that we have to pay one crore rupees as a goodwill. This one crore has to be paid in two installments in four weeks time," said a relieved Chetan Chauhan, who is the vice-president of DDCA.

"As far as other clearances are concerned, we will work and we will form a committee to look after this and we will try to get clearances and approvals as soon as possible. Even the T20 World Cup will be played and also the game against Sri Lanka in February," the former cricketer added.

The court has asked the Delhi government not to withhold No Objection Certificate to the DDCA for the final Test of the four-match series, which starts from December 3.

Justice Mukul Mudgal has also been appointed as an independent observer to oversee the affairs of the final Test.

Earlier on Wednesday, the court had paved the way for Feroz Shah Kotla to host the game and directed the MCD to issue Provisional Occupancy Certificate.

The DDCA has been mired in controversies over allegations of financial irregularities, with the capital's cricket body supposedly required to pay entertainment tax in excess of Rs 24 crore to the excise department.