Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium to be renamed after Arun Jaitley

The Delhi and District Cricket Association announced on Tuesday that the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium will be renamed in honour of late BJP leader Arun Jaitley.

Jaitley, who was an ardent follower of cricket, was one of the longest-serving presidents of the DDCA, having held the position from 1999 to 2013.

“In a fitting tribute to its former president Arun Jaitley, @delhi_cricket has decided to name the Stadium after him. Mr Jaitley, who passed away on August 24, was president of the DDCA from 1999 to 2013,” tweeted the official Twitter account of the DDCA, tagging the BCCI.

The DDCA said that the renaming of the stadium will happen at a function scheduled on September 12. A stand of the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground will also be named after India men's team skipper Virat Kohli, it added.

“The renaming of Delhi's famous cricket venue as Arun Jaitley Stadium will take place on September 12 at a function where a Stand of the ground will be named after India captain Virat Kohli.”

DDCA President Rajat Sharma said that Jaitley's support went a long way to make the DDCA what it is today.

“What can be better to have the stadium named after the man who rebuilt it under his presidentship... It was Arun Jaitley's support and encouragement that players like Virat Kohli, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Ashish Nehra, Rishabh Pant and many others could make India proud,” he said.

Sharma, however, issued a clarification that though the stadium has been renamed, the ground will continue to be called Feroz Shah Kotla.

Jaitley passed away on August 24 at AIIMS Delhi after suffering from a prolonged illness.