Bishan Singh Bedi wants his name removed from Firoz Shah Kotla, Madanlal supports

Dec. 24: Spin-bowling legend and former Indian captain Bishan Singh Bedi said that his name should be removed from the stand at Feroz Shah Kotla Ground in Delhi and also to cancel his membership of Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA). Bedi was supported in his demand by 1983 World Cup winning team player Madanlal.

Former India cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi has written a scathing letter against the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) for its decision to erect a statue of late BJP leader Arun Jaitley. DDCA had named a stand after Bedi along with Mshindra Amaranth in 2017.

The stadium at the national capital was renamed from Feroze Shah Kotla Stadium to Arun Jaitley Stadium soon after his death on August 24 last year. Bedi has quoted this as one of the main reasons for his dissatisfaction.

Citing examples of how great cricketers were honoured in in other countries, Bedi said, “People who surround you presently will never inform you that it’s WG Grace at Lord’s..Sir Jack Hobbs at the Oval..Sir Donald Bradman at the SCG…Sir Garfield Sobers at Barbados & Shane Warne of recent vintage at the MCG…who adorn their cricket stadia with the Spirit of Cricket never out of place.. Sporting arenas need sporting role models. The place of the administrators is in their glass cabins.”

“Since DDCA doesn’t understand this Universal cricket culture, I need to walk out of it. I can’t be part of a stadium which has got its priorities so grossly wrong & where administrators get precedence over the cricketers. Please bring down my name from the stand with immediate effect,” wrote Mr Bedi.