Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the pitch for the third Test between India and South Africa in Nagpur was “poor” and has in turn triggered a review of the performance of the pitch under the ICC’s pitch monitoring process.
“In accordance with Clause 3 of the process, ICC match referee Jeff Crowe submitted his report to the ICC expressing the concerns of the match officials over the performance of the pitch. This report has been forwarded to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which now has 14 days to provide its response,” the ICC said in a release on Tuesday.
After the BCCI comes up with a response, ICC general manager Geoff Allardice, and the chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle will evaluate the evidence by watching video footage of the game and then come to a conclusion on the quality of the pitch.
If it is found to have been unfit to play on, the duo will also decide if a penalty should be imposed.
“The ICC will make no further comments until Mr Allardice and Mr Madugalle have reached their decision,” the release added.
The Nagpur Test was played from November 25-27 in which India scored 215 and 173 in their two innings, while South Africa could only manage 79 and 185.
The pitch at the Vidarba Cricket Association Stadium was a rank turner which saw prodigious turn and unpredictable bounce from the very first day. Batsmen on both sides struggled to deal with the difficult conditions with the match coming to an end within three days.