Maharashtra allows a replacement for Pandey

KARNATAKA WERE allowed a replacement player for Manish Pandey, who was called up for the third Test (not in the Playing XI), a day after Maharashtra skipper Swapnil Gugale had declined the request.

A team is allowed a replacement only if the opposition captain agrees to it. Pandey had fielded during the Maharashtra innings before the news of his selection reached the team management. Gugale's original decision meant that Karnataka would have a batsman short. However, David Mathias was allowed to bat in place of Pandey. Mathias could manage just six runs during Karnataka's first innings total of 313 for 9. Karnataka have taken a 150-run lead and still have a wicket in hand in their first innings after bowling out Maharashtra for 163.

Gugale spoke about why there was a change in decision that allowed a substitute player. “Yesterday when they (Karnataka) asked, I said 'no'. Today again the Karnataka teamrequestedforareplacement.ihadaword with the team management and we agreed,” saidgugale.pandeywascalledupasareplacement for Ajinkya Rahane for the fourth Test. BRIEF SCORES : Maharashtra 163 all out vs Karnataka 313 for 9 in 101 overs (Pavan Deshpande 70, R Samarath 64, Stuart Binny 46, Vinay Kumar 36 no, A Sanklecha 3/69, Mohsin Sayyad 2/42, Pradeep Dadhe 2/80)