In an unusual spectacle, an Elite Ranji Trophy match was played without any spectators watching yesterday, while today even the media was thrown out from the venue with the help of the police for reporting that.
The Elite Group A match between Andhra and Delhi at the Roshanara ground was marred by ugly scenes when journalists were shoved away from the venue by cops, called in by the ground authorities who were irked by media reports criticizing the club's policy of not allowing spectators for the match.
The authorities demanded an "unconditional apology" from the journalists for what they claimed was "misreporting".
The journalists were first barred from entering the ground on Thursday morning and then the club's deputy secretary, Chatwani, told them that they would have to produce a "written and unconditional apology" to the club if they wanted to enter the ground.
As the journalists stood at the gate, trying to work things out with the Delhi District and Cricket Association officials, they were shocked to see police being called in to "throw them out".
With access to the venue denied, the journalists decided not to report on the match.
The match also witnessed some unsavoury incidents on Wednesday, when Chatwani and another official manhandled a photographer of the Hindustan Times, claiming that DDCA vice-president Chetan Chauhan had instructed them not to allow any camerapersons other than those of Doordarshan inside.
Chauhan later clarified that the order was meant only for television cameras.
At a time when the Board of Control for Cricket in India claims it is working hard to popularise domestic cricket, the DDCA's decision to hold a match at a venue where spectators are not allowed has come in for criticism from all quarters.
It is learnt that the ground authorities had already informed the DDCA that it is a private club ground and spectators would not be allowed inside.
Hindustan Times Sports Editor Pradeep Magazine was very critical of the DDCA's decision to hold the match at the Roshanara despite being aware of the club policy of not allowing spectators in.
"On one hand the BCCI wants to popularise domestic cricket and on the other the DDCA is holding a match at a venue where no one can watch it," he said.
