DDCA’s ‘Limited Resources’ Not Enough to Fund Sangwan’s Surgery

Sangwan underwent a spinal surgery at a hospital in London in June 2017.

Another controversy looms large over Delhi cricket. This time, it is one their players Pradeep Sangwan, who has accused Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) of not honouring his claim for reimbursement for a spinal surgery that he had undergone at a hospital in London in June 2017.

According to Pradeep, DDCA officials have told him that the association doesn’t have enough money at this moment to reimburse him.

Before leaving for London for the operation, I had informed DDCA about the expenses. At that time, they had asked me to bear the cost and said that they would reimburse the amount once I was back. It has been over nine months now and I am yet to receive the money.

Pradeep Sangwan to The Quint

But in a statement to The Quint, Justice Vikramjit Sen, who has been appointed by the High Court to look after DDCA’s administration, has denied that DDCA had ever agreed to bear the entire medical expenses of Pradeep Sangwan.

While every player is valuable at DDCA, there is no policy at DDCA for the reimbursements of medical expenses of players but despite that I was of the opinion that our players should get as much support as possible. After much discussion, it was agreed that DDCA would agreed to pay half the expenses towards his surgery and the other half would be borne by Mr. Sangwan as he is a cricketer of some standing and could afford to pay the other half and he had agreed to do so. 

Justice Vikramjit Sen to The Quint. 

According to Justice Sen, Pradeep reached out to DDCA in May 2017 for financial assistance to fund his operation in England. This was the second occasion when DDCA was asked to pay for his medical surgery. The DDCA chief also asked BCCI for assistance and accepted that DDCA's limited resources weren’t enough to fund Pradeep’s surgery.

Separately DDCA also requested BCCI to request their insurance company to cover his entire medical expenses. As the Administrator I am tasked with balancing all interests, cricketing and otherwise. There are many competing demands on DDCA’s limited resources.

Justice Vikramjit Sen to The Quint. 

Speaking to The Quint, Pradeep said he sustained the spinal injury during the 2015-16 domestic season. After the injury, Delhi team’s physio P Badrinath asked him to go to National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, where he was recommended to consult doctors in London.

According to Pradeep, he had to bear a cost of Rs 21 lakh for the surgery.

After making a comeback to the side, Pradeep was named captain for the last two tournaments that Delhi played this season. He also approached the BCCI with his problem while he was in London. That was when Professor Ratnakar Shetty, the general manager for game development for BCCI, intervened.

After Professor Ratnakar Shetty wrote to them, they transferred Rs 10 lakh to my account which I used for my treatment. However, I am yet to receive the balance.

Pradeep Sangwan to The Quint

Pradeep also approached the Cricket Affairs Committee (CAC) of DDCA, headed by former Indian cricketer Madan Lal.

“The CAC asked me to resend all the necessary documents pertaining to the surgery to DDCA,” said Pradeep.

As far as BCCI is concerned, it has no written rules related to such cases. Normally state associations take care of their players. BCCI reimburses the amount claimed through insurance.

“In Sangwan’s case, the injury was not reported at the time he experienced discomfort and stiffness in his lower back, and the insurance company declined to pay any amount,” a top BCCI official told The Times of India.

Pradeep pointed out to The Quint that earlier, this wasn’t the case with DDCA.

“Previously, when I got operated, DDCA bore all the expenses. Even in case of some senior players, who were previously operated several times, DDCA settled all the medical bills for then,” Pradeep told The Quint.

At the end of the day the question arises, if BCCI, which is one of the richest sport’s governing body in the world, cannot look after its players and bear their complete medical expenses, then who will?

Pradeep Sangwan has been in the domestic circuit for more than ten years. It was while playing for his domestic side he sustained an injury during the 2015-16 season, which led to his ailment. So, it is complete responsibility of BCCI and the state association to take care of his medical costs. None of them can shrug off their responsibility citing lack of funds and ‘limited resources’. Even ‘not reporting the injury within specific time period’ is not a good reason. You can’t expect him to pay half of the expense just because he is ‘a cricketer of some standing.’ And at the same time by paying Rs 10 lakh you didn’t do him a favour.