The BCCI has suspended Pandurang Salgaoncar, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) curator, who was captured in a sting operation allegedly promising to manipulate the Pune pitch which is hosting the second ODI of the India-New Zealand series today.
Even as it gathers further details the BCCI decided to suspend Salgaoncar with immediate effect and put in charge of the Pune pitch a member of the board’s grounds and pitches committee. Chris Broad, the ICC match referee, is inspecting the pitch along with the umpires before a final call will be taken but a senior BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo that the match will take place regardless of the controversy and if need be it will be played on an adjacent strip.
“Salgaoncar has been suspended and he has been banned from entering the stadium till the report of the enquiry [is submitted],” BCCI’s acting president CK Khanna told ESPNcricinfo. “I have spoken with Maharashtra Cricket Association president Abhay Apte, who has already initiated an enquiry. The BCCI’s neutral curator from Mumbai has taken charge and so I don’t think there will be be any issue as far as the (conduct of the match) is concerned. Neeraj Kumar, the head of the BCCI’s ACSU, has also been asked to submit his report. The Maharashtra Cricket Association has also been asked to submit a report to the BCCI.”
In the video of the sting, carried out by India Today TV, Salgaoncar is shown saying he can prepare the Pune pitch to suit two particular bowlers (not named). Salgaoncar is also seen giving the undercover reporters – allegedly posing as bookies – information about the pitch, which is strictly prohibited under the ICC’s anti-corruption code.
Nagraj Gollapudi is a senior assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo