'Organising a Test match is like a daughter's marriage'

Describing his maiden experience of overseeing the organisation of a Test match as an "interesting experience", high court-appointed observer Justice Mukul Mudgal said it feels like a 'daughter's marriage'.

Asked about his experience in the controversy-ridden Delhi and District Cricket Association so far, after having taken charge for the fourth and final Test between India and South Africa, starting on Thursday, Mudgal jokingly said: "It's almost like my daughter's marriage. Actually, I don't have a daughter, but I know what a girl's parents go through before her marriage. Especially when we had very little time after the high court order. May be, we will have some deficiencies but we will get wiser with experience."

"Look, even if I have to give an adverse comment, I will not like to give it just now. It won't be proper. Experience has been interesting. Beyond that I won't say anything," the legal luminary said.

Quizzed if he had received the desired co-operation from the DDCA officials, he replied: "Yes and No."

He stressed that children with disability will be given free tickets for the match. India have already sealed the four-match series following  victories in the Mohali and Nagpur Tests, while the second match in Bangalore was washed out.

"Around 8250 children including those who are hearing impaired and problems regarding speech will be given free tickets, free transportation (by Delhi Government), free meal, cold drink, free mineral water and fruit," he stated.

The rates of the season tickets are Rs 250, 500, 1000, 4000, 4500, 5000 respectively. Tickets will be available from nine Cafe Coffee Day outlets across Delhi. Tickets will also be available from Embassy Restaurant at Civil Lines and Connaught Place.

However, Mudgal said that "daily tickets will be up for sale with two physical kiosks being set up at JP Park and Bal Bhavan".

"We would be selling daily tickets in the light of thefact that Test match might not last full five days. Thank God, we are in charge of the pitch and I do not know what the nature of the pitch and have no control over it."

Mudgal also said that he and former Deputy CAG IP Singh, who is supervising the tendering process, have bought their own tickets.

"Myself and IP Singh have refused complimentaries. We have bought our tickets. Complimentaries create a lot of controversies and we will be setting benchmark by buying our own tickets."

As has been reported, the DDCA has managed to break-even in this match with the in-stadia rights being sold for Rs 2.05 crore and tenders being given at much lower rates.

"We have funds for the day-to-day expenditures after the sale of in-stadia rights. All the tender documents have been supervised by IP Singh, whose integrity is unquestionable. After the match, I can give you comparative chart about how much we saved from tenders," said Mudgal.