After the immense success of the series against Australia, team India lost the opening ODI against New Zealand by six wickets at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Ross Taylor and Tom Latham put up a 200 run partnership for the 4th wicket to register the victory for their side, making them 1-0 ahead in the three-match ODI series.
The 2nd ODI in the 3-match ODI series is scheduled on 25 October 2017 (Wednesday). Team India is under pressure after the Kiwis took a 1-0 lead in Mumbai. However, Virat Kohli and Co are all set to level the series by defeating the visitors in the 2nd ODI held at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Ground in Pune.
But ahead of the match, the curator of MCA ground, Pandurang Salgaonkar has been sacked after being accused of ‘allowing people to tamper with the pitch’. According to leading website India Today, its reporters ‘disguised as bookies’ had the pitch curator agreeing to prepare the pitch according to their demands.
Salgaonkar is a former fast bowler who played 63 first-class matches and 5 List-A games claiming 214 and 4 wickets. He is also accused to have allowed the reporters on the pitch and tamper with it. He is now restricted from entering the ground.
“Pandurang Salgaonkar has been suspended from the Maharashtra Cricket Association’s curator’s post with immediate effect. 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,” BCCI acting Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary told.
First reaction from @BCCI on #OperationCricketGate Amitabh Chaudhari says he’s ‘shocked’ by @IndiaToday expose. Promises to punish guilty.
— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) October 25, 2017
The leading website added that a clear violation of rules from ICC and the BCCI was witnessed when the curator allowed the reporters to inspect the pitch themselves. When asked if he could prepare the pitch in regards to two players wanting extra bounce, Salgaonkar replied by saying “it will be done”.
Pandurang Salgaonkar had claimed that the pitch for the 2nd ODI is expected to witness a run-fest, with teams being able to put up 330-340 runs either way. He also reported that the 340 will be chaseable. The match should go ahead as planned, despite the scandal, unless the match referee finds evidence of the pitch being doctored, Amitabh Chaudhary told.