KATHMANDU, Oct 25: Pune pitch curator Pandurang Salgaonkar has been caught on camera talking to India Today reporters disguised as bookies revealing the pitch will be made according to their demands.
India Today reporters disguised as bookies unearthed a massive scandal on Wednesday as they caught the Maharashtra Cricket Association pitch curator allowing people to tamper with the pitch on the eve of the second ODI between India and New Zealand in Pune.
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Salgaonkar agreed to tamper the pitch to allow some bounce on the pitch after being demanded by the disguised reporters as Salgaonkar replied, "it will be done" in the sting operation video published by India Today.
The curator even allowed the reporters to inspect the pitch in person, clearly violating the laws as set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC).
This is the same pitch rated poor by the ICC after the India-Australia Test match which was played in February earlier this year. Australia thrashed India by 333 runs after the hosts were bowled out for 105 and 107 in both innings within three days.
MCA president Abhay Apte on air with India Today said, "We will look into the matter. Rest assured, if anyone found guilty, strict action will be taken."
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary also expressed his views on the matter to India Today, "the BCCI has zero tolerance on such issues. I am not yet aware of the full thing. I will attend to it immediately and take the strictest action. The guilty will not be spared."
Salgaoncar has already been barred from entering the stadium for today's ODI and he faces preliminary action but Indian cricket team's former captain Mohammad Azharuddin has called for a complete ban on the curator.
India is trailing 0-1 in the three-match series after losing the first match by 6 wickets at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.
