After the ‘pitch-fixing’ incident rocked the Indian cricket fraternity before the second One-Day International in Pune, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is taking no chances ahead of the series-decider, as according to India Today the Kanpur curator has been gagged by the board.
The board have barred the Kanpur curator from talking about the nature of the pitch to anyone. Not only that, but the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) has also beefed up security around the surface for the third and final ODI which will decide the fate of the series.
“We have to be more careful after the incident in Pune. The police officials have been told that only individuals with valid accreditation can enter the stadium. This practice was already in place, but we are extra-cautious now,” UPCA acting secretary Yudhvir Singh had told The Press Trust of India.
“The groundsmen too have been instructed that they don’t need to discuss the nature of the pitch with anyone. What’s the need for that anyway,” Singh had added.
The precautionary measures taken by the BCCI and the UPCA are being made after Pune pitch curator Pandurang Salgaonkar was caught red-handed leaking the confidential pitch details. In a sting operation carried out by India Today, Salgaonkar had revealed the pitch information with the reporters who were disguised as media personals.
Salgaonkar had not only revealed the details of the pitch but had also agreed to alter it as per the ‘bookies’ demands. He had also taken the disguised reporters near the pitch, which is against the laws set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The story was revealed just a few hours before the game, and the curator got immediately suspended from all roles. Salgaonkar is currently under ICC investigation.
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