Why was the DDCA official in the Indian dressing room during the game against the Dutchmen?
India's World Cup match against The Netherlands at the Ferozeshah Kotla may have gone without any major problems, but a sideshow has put the Delhi District Cricket Association in a fix.
Pradeep Agarwal, a member of the DDCA's sports working committee, was seen in the Indian dressing room, where only team members and officials are allowed.
In practice, an outsider entering dressing room requires the International Cricket Council's Anti Corruption and Security Unity's clearance.
The incident gained significance as the ICC is keen on ensuring that no controversy regarding match-fixing occurs during the tournament.
Rediff.com has learnt that the ICC's ACSU issued the following clarification:
'Pradeep was appointed as the official local LO (liaison officer) for the Indian team by DDCA and it is only on the invitation of the team manager that Pradeep was provided temporary visitor pass for access to the PMOA (Players and Match Officials Area).'
The communique to the ICC's venue managers was signed by R N Sawani, general manager, ACSU, ICC.
'There are no issues with the India - Netherlands game as on date,' Sawani added.
The controversy broke when one television channel flashed clips of Agarwal on the dressing room balcony, and alleged that he was involved with bookies.
Despite the ACSU clarification, it is not clear if there was an investigation against Agarwal and he was cleared, or if he had the ACSU's prior clearance.
ICC officials and its venue managers have declined to comment on the issue.
This is not the first controversy in this World Cup.
Last week, a Sri Lankan television commentator accused Mahela Jayawardene and Tilakaratne Dilashan of being involved in spot fixing. After Jayawardene took legal action, the claim was quickly retracted.
Earlier this week, a Pakistani web site claimed that Dilshan had failed a random ICC dope test, which also turned out to be false.
In the opening week of the tournament, reports claimed that Australia's slow start against Zimbabwe was under the ACSU scanner.
With no real controversy around, some folks may not resist the temptation of using their imagination to manufacture some.
