ICC ACU to look into Pune 'pitch fixing' fiasco

Hours before the commencement of the 2nd ODI between India and New Zealand, the venue for the game came under some serious scrutiny. A sting operation by a popular media house saw the pitch curator of the MCA Stadium, Pune concede to the demands of the bookies for tampering the pitch before the start of the game.

Pandurang Salgaoncar, who has been the pitch curator at the venue for a long time, was suspended with immediate effect by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The acting BCCI President, CK Khanna, was firm in quoting to AFP that Salgaoncar was suspended and banned from entering the stadium. “Yes, he has been suspended and banned from entering the stadium,” Khannad had quoted before the commencement of the match.

He had further announed that a neutral curator was assigned the task of getting the pitch ready following the suspension of Salgaoncar. “A neutral curator from Mumbai has taken charge (for the New Zealand ODI). He has inspected the pitch and found it to be perfectly fine,” he had added.

ICC closely monitoring the issue

Now, the issue seems to have aggravated an inch further with the global body coming in to the picture. The International Cricket Council (ICC), as per the recent reports in Times of India, have commented that the ICC is keen on looking in to the matter in depth. An ICC Spokesman mentioned that the allegations made on the curator of the Pune track is being investigated. Also, the corresponding Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) manager in India is in close contact with the know how of the issue.

“We are investigating the allegations from Pune this morning, as with all international cricket. As with all international cricket, the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit has an ICC ACU Manager on the ground in India and we are in close contact with him.We are now looking to establish the facts and will make no further comment whilst this is ongoing,” the ICC Spokesman quoted.