Kotla pitch was poor, not unfit: BCCI

NEW DELHI: Even as Ferozeshah Kotla's fate hangs in balance after the ODI fiasco, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) is preparing a 'strong' reply to the ICC in the venue's defence following strong censure by Alan Hurst, match referee for the India-Sri Lanka ODI on December 27 which had to be abandoned due to poor pitch conditions.

BCCI bigwigs met in Mumbai on Sunday and discussed the draft of the reply. BCCI president Shashank Manohar and DDCA president Arun Jaitley were present in the meeting.

Source said BCCI will stress that "while the pitch might be poor it was not unfit for playing." Hurst had labelled the pitch 'unfit' in his report after the abandonment, the lowest rating given to a ground. As reported by TOI earlier, BCCI is also planning to request the appeals commissioner to consider a three-month suspended ban and a fine of $15,000.

The BCCI, it's learnt, is going to argue that T20 Champions League matches and an ODI against Australia were played at the same venue just a few weeks back 'without any hiccups'.

ICC's chief match referee, Ranjan Madugalle, and general manager (cricket), Dave Richardson, will decide on the sanctions after they receive BCCI's response. If the BCCI is successful in convincing the duo that the track was only 'poor', then Kotla may escape with a just a fine and a directive for appropriate corrective actions. Otherwise, a ban on holding international games for a specified period is likely.