The Pune pitch curator Pandurang Salgaonkar was caught on camera giving inside information to reporters of India today disguised as bookies, in a sting operation done by a news channel, India Today. The threat looms over the second one-day game. India is 0-1 down in the series after being outplayed in 1st ODI at Wankhede.
The reporters asked the curator Pandurang Salgaoncar that two players wanted to bounce on the pitch. Will it be done? To which he replied, “Yes! It will be done!” Pandurang Salgaonkarassured that it will be a 337-340 wicket and 340 will also be chasable.
“We will look into the matter. Rest assured, if anyone found guilty, strict action will be taken,” Apte said while on his way to the stadium
He agreed to manipulate some bounce, some movement and some balance between bat and ball for the Wednesday ODI at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) stadium.
“Pune pitch curator Pandurang Salgaonkar suspended & BCCI neutral curator has inspected Pune pitch, says its fine. Confident that match will be on,” BCCI acting president CK Khanna told ANI.
“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 strictest action. The guilty will not be spared,” Chaudhary told India Today.
The last time a test match was played here, India suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Australia by 333 runs. Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin wants Pune pitch curator Pandurang Salgaonkar to be banned. Salgaonkar has been banned from entering stadium ahead of today”s ODI.
President CK Khanna told Cricketnext that action would be taken on against the curator if he is found guilty. BCCI acting president CK Khanna has written to anti-corruption unit head Neeraj Kumar to get in touch with Pune team and send a report
https://twitter.com/IndiaToday/status/923054242805329920
“The matter has come to our notice and we are looking into the details. Too early to announce the quantum of punishment, but BCCI has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and fixing and strong action will be taken if found guilty,” BCCI acting President CK Khanna told Cricketnext.
– by Atharva Apte