ICC joins Nagpur pitch row; rates it “poor”

ICC Match Referee Jeff Crowe submitted his report with concerns regarding the poor performance of the pitch. The report has further been forwarded to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and a 14-day deadline has been given to the body to respond to it.  

The “minefield” Nagpur track received flak from players all over the world after India defeated South Africa by 124 runs in three days. Australian Glen Maxwell called the pitch ‘diabolical’, while retired cricketer Matthew Hayden said that such tracks are reducing the quality of the game. However, Team India Director Ravi Shastri and the players have defended the track. Ravi Shastri said- "Let them sit in Australia and talk about their pitches. Tell them not to waste their time about Indian tracks. Come and play here," said Shastri, as quoted by reuters. While R Ashwin raised the Trent Bridge match,which had concluded in just two days. "I did not complain after Johannesburg (Test). I was dropped for a year after that. And, I am not going to complain playing here. There's no reason why I should have complaints. Swing, seam and bounce for two days at Trent Bridge (referring to Ashes)- match over. I don't know what that's about," Ashwin sai. 

Once the BCCI submits their report, ICC’s General Manager, Geoff Allardice, and the ICC’s Chief Match Referee, Ranjan Madugalle, will go through all relevant evidences including video footage of the game, and then will reach a conclusion on whether or not a penalty must be imposed, reported the ICC website.

Further updates on the issue will be released only after Mr Allardice and Mr Madugalle have reached a decision, said the release.