Kotla may be out of race for international matches

Earlier this year, the ICC barred Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua from hosting any international match for two years after the Test between England and the West Indies was called off soon after the start because of “unfit” ground and pitch condition.

The ICC had also directed the authorities in Antigua to take appropriate remedial action that also requires them to seek prior ICC re-accreditation as an international venue.
However, on Monday, ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat avoided making any commitment on the punitive action that Kotla might face over the Sunday fiasco. He merely said that the abrupt end to the India-Sri Lanka match was “very unfortunate.”

The fifth and final match between India and Sri Lanka was called off after 23.3 overs after match referee Alan Hurst - in consultation with on-field umpires and captains from both sides - decided that the pitch on the offer was ‘dangerous’ and ‘unfit’ to play.

Procedure to follow

There is a code of conduct that the ICC follows while dealing with such lapses, but Lorgat maintained that he would rather wait and watch as the concerned people take appropriate decision.

The South African indicated that it would take at least a couple of weeks or more before they arrive at a verdict as the Board of Control for Cricket in India has 14 days to reply to the match referee’s report to the ICC. 

“I wouldn’t want to make any comment or speculate on any outcome. The first thing that happens in such a situation is for the match referee to file a report on the condition of the pitch and the outfield. It’s a very standard process that takes place at the end of every international game, whether it’s a Test or an ODI or a Twenty20.”

“When we (ICC) receive the report, as we have in this particular instance, which has got concerns, we would write to the host board within five days. I can confirm that we have already written to the BCCI this morning. The BCCI or any other host association would have 14 days in which to respond as to what happened in their report.”

14-day period

“After that 14-day period when we receive the reply from the BCCI, the ICC Chief Referee Ranjan Madugalle and ICC’s Head of Cricket Operations Dave Richardson will then review all the reports in front of them and they will determine what would be an appropriate response and if it warrants a sanction what would be an appropriate sanction for the Delhi pitch,” he elaborated.