State associations doctoring pitches in the Ranji Trophy has been a malaise for a long time. In a move meant to be an example to its affiliates, the Indian cricket board’s technical and senior tournament committee has decided to bar Delhi’s Karnail Singh Stadium from hosting matches in 2012-13.
Railways Sports Promotion Board, which organises matches at the Karnail Singh Stadium, has been asked to find an alternative venue for its home matches next season. The recommendations will be ratified in the board’s next working committee meeting.
However, Hyderabad Cricket Association, found guilty of similar charges, was lucky to be let off with a stern warning.
The four-day Plate league game between Hyderabad and Maharashtra ended in just two days, with the latter emerging victors by an innings and six runs. The other match between hosts Railways and Saurashtra was over in three days, with Saurashtra winning by 97 runs. None of the teams touched the 200-run mark.
According to reports, the BCCI’s ground and pitches committee chairman Venkat Sundaram had written to secretary Sanjay Jagdale, saying Railways had deliberately prepared an under-prepared surface.
Going a step further, the BCCI has decided to deduct two points from a host association’s tally for the season, should it be found guilty of preparing sub-standard tracks.
Among other significant decisions, the board has decided to reschedule the domestic cricket season which will now start with the Challenger series instead of the Irani Trophy. The Duleep Trophy will be the second tournament, followed by the Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup, ODI tournaments (Vijay Hazare Trophy and Deodhar Trophy) and the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tourney. It means Rajasthan will have to win the Ranji Trophy again to play the Irani Trophy.
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