The Pune pitch curator should be banned: Mohammad Azharuddin

Pandurang Salgaonkar, the curator at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Ground in Pune, has been suspended after being exposed revealing sensitive information about the pitch to bookies and allowing unofficial people to take a close look at the pitch, violating the laws set by International Cricket Council (ICC) and Board of Cricket for Control in India (BCCI).

Salgaonkar has played 63 First-class matches and 5 List-A games, scalping 214 and 4 wickets respectively. He has been barred from entering the cricket ground. India will take on New Zealand in the 2nd ODI of the 3-match series in Pune later today. The visitors have earlier sealed the 1st match in Mumbai by 6 wickets and currently have a lea of 1-0 going into the Pune match.

Azhar unhappy on learning about the fixing

Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin has expressed his displeasure and called for a ban on the pitch curator for revealing details and violating the laws. “Very sad that this has happened. Nobody should be allowed to go to the pitch (before a match),” Azhar told India Today.

“It will have a very big impact on the match. I don’t know what sort of wicket we will get. The curator should be immediately banned and there should be an enquiry. I do not have first-hand reaction yet but there should be an enquiry. Hopefully, the MCA, BCCI and ACSU will work in tandem,” Azhar said after learning about the sting operation conducted by India Today.

BCCI set to take strong action

“Pandurang Salgaonkar has been suspended from the Maharashtra Cricket Association’s curator’s post with immediate effect,” BCCI acting Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary told PTI. “The MCA has also suspended Salgaonkar from all other positions in the association. An inquiry Commission will also be constituted by MCA. At BCCI, we reiterate that we have zero tolerance towards any corrupt activity,” he added.