BCCI sacks Pune pitch curator after TV expose

There were irregularities on all fronts so a full scale inquiry has been ordered. ACU has only three people so they can’t be everywhere VINOD RAI, COA chairman THE CHANNEL SAID THE CURATOR PREDICTED A HIGHSCORING MATCH WITH THE TEAM BATTING FIRST SCORING 337

NEW DELHI: BCCI on Wednesday dismissed the pitch curator for the second ODI against New Zealand hours before the match after a TV sting, in which reporters allegedly posed as bookies, claimed he had agreed to tamper with the wicket.

The curator, Pandurang Salgaonkar, is a former Maharashtra pace bowler who, in the early 1970s, was regarded as one of the country’s fastest and a national team prospect. Salgaonkar, 68, played 63 first-class matches, claiming 214 wickets at an average of 26.70. He toured with the Indian team for an unofficial series against Sri Lanka in 1974.

The BCCI action came after India Today TV broadcast the video, claiming Salgaonkar allowed the ‘bookies’ to walk on the pitch and agreed to alter it according to their demand.

Hindustan Times could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. Repeated calls to Salgaonkar’s phone went unanswered. The BCCI in a statement announced Salgaonkar, a veteran pitch curator, has been dismissed by the Maharashtra Cricket Association and Ramesh Mhamunkar, a BCCI curator present in Pune as an observer, appointed to supervise the pitch for the match. There were some doubts whether the match would be held, but it went ahead as scheduled after International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Referee, Chris Broad, inspected the pitch and gave his approval.

The ICC said it would probe the matter. “We’re investigating the allegations from Pune,” an ICC spokesman was quoted by Reuters as saying. “The ICC AntiCorruption Unit has an ACU manager on the ground and we are in close contact with him. We are now looking to establish the facts…”

The Pune pitch prepared by Salgaonkar had faced criticism in February after the first Test against Australia, which India lost, ended in three days. The ICC ruled the track ‘poor’ after 31 of the 40 wickets fell to spinners.

The channel claimed Salgaonkar predicted a high-scoring match with the team batting first scoring 337 and the total being chased down. Former BCCI West Zone chief curator, Dhiraj Parsana, a former India spinner, rejected the suggestion Salgaonkar could have agreed to fix a game, saying he might have only tried to satisfy the journalists’ curiosity.

We have acted swiftly and ensured that there are no loopholes left in the ongoing series between India and New Zealand After players, the next soft target was likely to be the curators, who are hugely underpaid compared to match officials and players. PITCH FIXING IN THE PAST

Reporter: Sir, how’s the pitch for India-new Zealand match that you made?

Pandurang Salgaonkar: Very good. According to me, 337 runs should be scored

Reporter: Sure?

PS: Sure. And the 337 will be chase-able.

Reporter: Ok. Is this the same pitch that you showed us yesterday (October 23)?

PS: Yes

Reporter: Number 8?

PS: There is no doubt about it Reporter: It is not allowed to show pitch for international matches? PS: It is not allowed. Still, we did it..we have the power….the BCCI observer is sitting at the ground Reporter: Ok, is that the BCCI Curator? What’s his name?

PS: There’s an observer

Reporter: What’s his name?

PS: Mhamunkar

Reporter: No stranger can come near the pitch? PS: No.

Reporter: Why?

PS: No one can, says the BCCI law Reporter: BCCI or ICC?

PS: BCCI and ICC both. Me and you are talking here. Now if someone asks me tomorrow, I would say I don’t know anything. Nobody came.

Reporter: You will deny it out- right?

PS: Yes

Reporter: Sir, there is a small task. (Beep). There are two players. Fast bowlers. If they can get some help from the pitch for tomorrow’s match.

PS: New Zealand always bowls with their spinners.

Reporter: Tim Southee?

PS: Our pitch always helps fast bowlers.

Reporter: Sure?

PS: Sure

Reporter: We want (long beep) to favour them for their October 25 match between India and New Zealand

PS: It will be done. I told you this will be a 340-run wicket, either way Reporter: Yes you said that. We will do betting on it. But we want (long beep) to be favoured.

PS: That will be done. I have told you so.

Reporter: It will favour?

PS: Yes