Kotla pitch passes test, plays firm during SA-Windies match

New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) The local organisers of theCricket World Cup here today heaved a sigh of relief after there-laid Feroze Shah Kotla strip played firm and passed thetest of the rigours of the South Africa-West Indies match.

The stadium stood disgraced as an India-Sri Lanka ODI in2009 was abandoned because of a "dangerous" pitch, which notonly brought an embarrassing end to the series but also put aquestion mark over its stature as an international venue.

But the Kotla strip today played like any other Indianpitch without any apparent problems during the groupB encounter of the World Cup to the relief of DDCA officials,who have been anxious for the last few days.

The track was a virtual minefield in December 2009 as theSri Lankan batsmen, unlucky to be asked to bat first, fendedfor life as odd balls reared up alarmingly, following whichthe venue was banned by ICC for a year.

The stadium hosted a few local games, including the 2010Indian Premier League, after being relaid.