Kotla: Venkat’s pitch isn’t all that straight

All eyes were trained on Venkat Sundaram, chairman of the BCCI’s pitches and grounds committee, when he made a ‘formal visit’...

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All eyes were trained on Venkat Sundaram, chairman of the BCCI’s pitches and grounds committee, when he made a ‘formal visit’ to Ferozeshah Kotla on Saturday. As expected, he gave nothing away on whether it would indeed stage the last ODI in the India-Pakistan series.

‘‘I won’t say that I am satisfied with the pitch’’, he said post-inspection, ‘‘but yes, I am very happy with the commitment shown by the DDCA officials and am impressed by the progress made by them.’’

He then said there’d be another inspection by the entire committee Sunday week before the report is submitted. ‘‘It’s a 30-point agenda that determines the fitness of a centre in hosting a match. It’s an international match and let me assure you that there will be no compromise in the standards or facilities’’, Sundaram concluded.

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While Venkat didn’t mention what the 30 points were, the BCCI’s guidelines to staging associations on ODIs includes the following points:

Preparation of wicket and outfield: The deciding factor. The pitch seems to be a cause of concern, despite Chetan Chauhan’s assurance that the wicket is well on course and the superior variety of tifdwarf grass that has taken roots. Though pitch curator Radheyshyam was looking at a March 25 deadline to play the first match, Sundaram is keen on a ‘competitive match’ being played when he makes a return to the venue. The grass carpet in the outfield, Sundaram says, is in good shape

Pitch covers: A minimum of two sets of pitch covers and a similar arrangement to cover the bowler’s run-up and practice wickets.

Practice facilities: Proper net facilities should be provided to the team and a minimum of two practice pitches is required. Though Kotla is not in shape to provide practice facilities, a ‘‘little bit of foresight has helped’’ and two of the nine wickets in the main square can be used, says Sundaram.

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Dressing room arrangements: Efforts are being made for a new dressing room but the old ones are in good condition anyway.

EXTRA COVER
Ground realities apart, this is what the DDCA has to offer

• Stadium capacity of 26,374 seats, which includes the Tier I and ground floor and corporate boxes

• Parking for 7000 cars, where 150 cars can be parked within the DDCA campus. Asaf Ali road underground parking, Rajghat inner lane, IG stadium velodrome will be used to make up the numbers. Park and ride facility from India Gate and Bhairon Marg

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• 50 buses will be operation from 7 to 20 am and then from 4pm to 6 pm. Frequency of the buses will be reduced in between

• Construction to stop by April 2, and finishing touches would be done in the next 15 days. Certificates for partial occupancy applied with MCD, fire and other agencies