700 officials to manage 2,500

Some 700 officials to manage a crowd of 2,500. In the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), everything is possible. If the police are to be believed, the DDCA has distributed the functional passes rather too liberally, reports Khurram Habib.

Some 700 officials to manage a crowd of 2,500. In the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), everything is possible. If the police are to be believed, the DDCA has distributed the functional passes rather too liberally.

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"As many as 671 functional passes have been given away to various people to manage the Hill 'B' which seats just 2,500 DDCA members. It is an awful lot for that small a number," said Jaspal Singh, DCP (Central), while speaking to HT on Saturday. He added that this creates some problems for the security personnel.

To make matters worse, there have been reports of constant haggling between the security and the DDCA officials in getting stuff like food and drinks inside.

The police had, in its pre-match meeting with the organisers, made it clear that food and drinks should be inside the stadium five hours before the game for security reasons. But you could see it being brought in just 15 minutes before the Daredevils-Super Kings match, leading to heated debates.

Defending the DDCA, its general secretary, SP Bansal, said, "This is not true. Only 100-150 functional passes have been given on behalf of the DDCA to manage Hill 'B'. The rest could be of the other bodies involved in the event."