ICC interrogates the MCA pitch curator at an undisclosed location

An inquiry of suspended Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) pitch curator Pandurang Salgaonkar was conducted by a committee appointed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) at an unknown place in Pune. The inquiry was reportedly done from the head office of ICC situated in Dubai.

This enquiry was an event that culminated after a sting operation by reporters from an Indian media house who disguised themselves as bookies and had approached Pandurang Salgaonkar at the MCA Stadium in Gahunje Village near Pune city. In the footage, he is seen and heard making a deal about tampering the pitch as per their demands, in return for money. The fact that he allowed the reporters on the pitch in itself was a problem as it is a strictly prohibited area during International matches.

The events as they happened

On Thursday around 1 pm, suspended MCA pitch curator, Salgaonkar, was spotted leaving his residence in his car. As reported by India Today, he was accompanied by three of his relatives and it was learnt that he was heading for the MCA office. But as he was lost in the maze of Pune traffic, the India Today team headed straight to the MCA office, but Salgaonkar did not reach there.

Earlier in the morning, his son Chetan Salgaonkar had confirmed about his father being called for an inquiry. However, he did not reveal which inquiry. It was in the late evening during talks with other people from the cricketing fraternity that it was confirmed that it was the said inquiry that was meant to be conducted by the ICC.

MCA Secretary shared details about the board meeting called by the MCA with regards to the sting operation. The decision to immediately suspend Salgaonkar was unanimously agreed upon, in a meeting led by MCA President Abhay Apte.