The sting operation by India Today, exposing Pune Pitch curator Pandurang Salgaonkar has put the crucial second One-Day International between India and New Zealand, scheduled to be played on Wednesday (October 25) in doubt.
The news outlet sent its reporters disguised as bookies for the sting operation and shockingly Salgaonkar did not hesitate in revealing the highly confidential inside information to them. The curator was recorded on the camera, speaking to the disguised reporters, revealing that the pitch would get prepared according to their (‘bookies’) demands.
Salgaonkar also revealed that the pitch would witness a high scoring game, saying that it is going to be a 337-340 wicket either way. He also assured on camera that a score as big as 337 would be chaseable. Not only that, but the curator also took 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). Salgaonkar went on to agree to alter the pitch when the reporters said that a couple of players wanted some bounce on the wicket.
The sting operation has not only exposed Salgaonkar, but it has now also cast huge doubts over the penultimate game of the three-match series as according to ANI, the BCCI sources have revealed that the curator will be suspended while the decision to go ahead with the match depends on the match referee.
“Pune pitch curator to be be suspended, referee will take call on calling off the match(#indvsnz): BCCI sources on sting against pitch curator,” tweeted the news outlet.
In another tweet, the news agency stated that CK Khanna, the acting BCCI president, has written to anti-corruption unit head Neeraj Kumar to get in touch with Pune team and send a report.
If the match is called off, it will be a big blow not only for Team India but also for the BCCI and the country. India are trailing the three-match series 1-0 and need to win the game at any cost to extend their winning run in ODI series this year. On the other hand, the BCCI’s image is going to be tarnished if the match referee decides not to give the green light to the match.
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The Pune pitch, meanwhile, is not new to controversies. Earlier this year too, the Pune pitch had hogged the limelight after Australia bowled out India twice inside three days to win the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar series. The pitch was later given a poor rating by the ICC.