The bickering within the Delhi and District Cricket Association over the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch fiasco took an ugly turn on Tuesday with board member Kirti Azad storming out of the body's annual general meeting, claiming he was insulted for raising the issue.
Azad alleged that members who raised the issue of the Kotla pitch, the dangerous, uneven bounce of which forced the abandonment of the fifth and final India-Sri Lanka one-dayer on Sunday, were manhandled by DDCA officials.
"When I entered, some people tried to insult me. Some members were mishandled when they were asking questions in the meeting. As we are members of DDCA it is our duty to ask questions. Today's meeting has left me deeply hurt," the former cricketer, who attended a DDCA AGM for the first time, said.
However, DDCA Sports Secretary Sunil Dev denied Azad's allegations and claimed the meeting went off peacefully.
"The meeting was peaceful and no incident took place. Resolutions were passed unanimously and everyone was allowed to speak. Nothing at all happened," Dev said.
Asked if Azad had been insulted or manhandled for raising the Kotla pitch issue, Dev replied, "Not at all. If any of the members who attended the meeting say that something of this sort happened, I will resign immediately.
"The AGM went off well, our accounts were passed. Eight directors were elected and it all happened peacefully," he insisted.
"Kotla discussion was raised by some members and their questions were answered by our president. If there was a mistake, we will mend it," he added.
