ICC Media Release:

ICC warns BCCI over sub-standard pitch at Kanpur; BCCI accepts decision and promises to take steps to avoid a repeat

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has given the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) an official warning for preparing a poor quality pitch for the Test match between India and South Africa at Kanpur in April.

It has also recommended that the BCCI takes remedial action to ensure it does not happen again at that venue. To that end, the BCCI’s pitch consultant Daljit Singh will be asked to assist the process.

In response, the BCCI has accepted the warning and undertaken to carry out the necessary action to ensure the pitch at Kanpur is improved for future international matches.

“I thank the ICC for its input and decision in relation to this and I can assure everyone that we will take all steps necessary to ensure this does not happen in the future,” said Niranjan Shah, honorary secretary of the BCCI.

The decision is the completion of the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, which was introduced in 2006 to ensure international cricket is played in conditions of a suitably high standard.

The first stage of that process followed the match in question, which saw 32 wickets fall in three days’ play.

At that point Roshan Mahanama of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees submitted a report to the ICC expressing his concern over the quality of the playing surface.

“My considered view is that the pitch was poor as it was too dry and had considerable turn and variable bounce from the first day... The pitch was not up to Test match standards,” said Mr Mahanama in his report.

Under clause 3.3 of the regulations governing the process, and following receipt of the match referee’s report which rated the pitch as substandard, the ICC wrote to the BCCI enclosing a copy of Mr Mahanama’s report and asked for a written report on the condition of the surface including any extenuating circumstances which may have existed.

In accordance with clause 3.4 of the regulation the BCCI provided that detailed reply.

Also in accordance with the process, the ICC’s General Manager – Cricket David Richardson and the ICC’s chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle then considered all the evidence, including studying video footage of the match, before passing judgment.

Detailing the decision, Mr Richardson said: “We have come to a decision that the pitch prepared for the match should be rated as ‘poor’.

“We have taken into consideration the explanations offered by the BCCI as to the reasons for the dryness of the pitch and we have noted that there is no previous record of a sub-standard pitch being prepared in Kanpur.

“However, taking all the evidence into account and, in accordance with clause 4.2 of the regulation, we have decided to impose an official warning as the sanction.

“It would appear that the poor quality of the pitch prepared for this Test was due to inadequate preparation procedures. We have recommended that the BCCI pitch consultant, Daljit Singh, be requested to investigate and to ensure that in future the manner of preparation is in line with what is required to ensure that a better balance between bat and ball is achieved,” added Mr Richardson.

In his report, Mr Mahanama noted several disappointing aspects of the pitch’s performances including dryness, uneven bounce and signs of breaking up, even before lunch on the first day. He also noted that the inconsistency of bounce became steadily worse as the game progressed.

The ICC had the power to impose a sanction ranging from a warning or a fine up to a suspension of international status for the venue in question in the case of repeated offences.