ICC warns BCCI over'poor quality Green Park pitch

Dubai, May 9 (UNI) Issuing a warning to the BCCI for preparing a poor quality pitch for the third Test against South Africa, the International Cricket Council (ICC) today recommended that the Indian board should take 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,'' BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said.

India won the third and final Test at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur to level the series 1-1 against South Africa. The match saw 32 wickets fall in three days of play.

After the match, Proteas coach Micky Arthur criticised the pitch and said the track was one of the most under-prepared in the world.

At that point, Match Referee Roshan Mahanama 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 Mahanama in his report.

Following receipt of the match referee's report, the ICC wrote to the BCCI enclosing a copy of Mahanama's report and asked for a written report on the condition of the surface including any extenuating circumstances which may have existed.

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