Visakhapatnam on track to host final New Zealand ODI
Visakhapatnam is on track to host the fifth and final ODI of the ongoing New Zealand series after speculation of the match being moved out were triggered by reports of uneven bounce during a Ranji Trophy game last week.
Senior BCCI curator Kasturi Rangan gave the nod after inspecting the pitch on Wednesday.
“There is no fear about the match being shifted out of Visakhapatnam. There never was a problem about staging the ODI but after the seeing the pattern of matches played recently we wanted to make sure that we don't cut a sorry figure,” Andhra Cricket Association secretary G Gangaraju said.
"Hence, we had asked the BCCI to send a curator to inspect the pitch and certify it. We didn't want to leave anything to chance as it's a prestigious match. The ACA has always done its utmost to give the best facilities and we are not going to let our guard down.
"The BCCI curator inspected the pitch and said there was nothing wrong with it. It is in perfect condition. He asked us to use a heavy roller.”
Seventeen wickets had fallen on the third day of the Ranji match between Assam and Rajasthan at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on an up-and-down pitch with the ball occasionally shooting through as low as ankle high.
"We had laid a new pitch and because of the heavy rains in the last two months there was not enough light to dry the pitch. That was a cause of worry but we were sure that there would never be a problem for playing the ODI on this surface," Gangaraju said.
"The only worry for us was if the pitch would be suitable for the Test match to be played next month against England. That's why we wanted to get the pitch certified ahead of the ODI as it would clear all doubts. We don't want to put on a poor show.”
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