The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sought an explanation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the pitch fiasco.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sought an explanation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the pitch fiasco that led to the abrupt stoppage of the fifth and final ODI between Sri Lanka and India in New Delhi. ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat said the BCCI has been given 14 days to reply to match referee Alan Hurst’s report.
“The BCCI in this particular incident like any other host board in any other situation would have 14 days in which to respond with their report what had happened. So, the BCCI, in this particular incident, would have 14 days — starting Monday — to reply to Match Referee’s Alan Hurst report which would also have been forwarded along to them with their version of the incident,” Lorgat said.
“Once we receive the response from the BCCI, the chief match referee who is Ranjan Madugalle and Dave Richardson, who is general manager or head of cricket operations of ICC, will then review all of the report in front of them and they would determine what will be an appropriate response, what are the sanctions what the appropriate sanctions would be for the Delhi pitch,” he added. Meanwhile, reports have suggested that the incident could have been averted had the BCCI and the DDCA acted in time after the ICC said in November that it was unhappy with the condition of the pitch.
The ICC inspection, which was for the 2011 World Cup, took place on November 4. The track also drew lot of flak during the Champions League Twenty20 matches as only there were three dismissals behind the stumps in eight matches. It was indicative of the low bounce. The ICC report had taken serious note of the pitch, saying: “There is an ODI at this venue on December 27 and considerable improvement of the pitch block will be required by then to make the pitch provided more acceptable.”
“During the Champions League and the India vs Australia ODI series, it was well documented that the performance and condition of the pitches at the stadium were a cause of concern for the players,” the report said. ICC also had its reservations about DDCA’s move of planting winter grass on the track.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged that Kotla will not host any game during the forthcoming series against South Africa. As a fallout of the incident, Delhi is reportedly out of the race to host one of the two Tests against South Africa early next year. The date and venue of the two Tests and three ODIs have not been announced yet. “After the pitch fiasco the Kotla is now out of the race,” a BCCI official said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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