As a fallout of yesterdays pitch fiasco at the Ferozeshah Kotla,Delhi is reportedly out of the race to host Indias Test match against South Africa early next year. Even though the date and venue of the two-Test series have not been finalised,Delhi was a front-runner to host one of the two matches when South Africa visit the country in February-March for a series that also features three ODIs. But after the pitch fiasco that led to the abanbdonment of the fifth and final India-Sri Lanka ODI yesterday,Ferozeshah Kotla is now out of the race, a BCCI source said. Under ruled even if the Kotla pitch is considered poor for play,it can entail a minimum of one year ban as an international venue. If it is brought under unfit,the ban could be longer. The ICC has already served a notice seeking explanation from BCCI which has asked DDCA for its version. It may take a months time for the ICC to complete the process and come out with appropriate sanction in the case of Kotla. Former players blasted DDCA for the fiasco with ex-captain Bishan Singh Bedi wondering how the pitch which was not used even for Ranji Trophy matches was used for the one-dayer. DDCA vice president Chetan Chauhan,however,expressed hopes that ICC would understand the issue and Kotla would remain an international venue. I would be a liar if I say I dont worry. We are very,very sorry and upset but it was beyond our control. We want international cricket to continue in Kotla. We have taken it seriously and accept it was our mistake, Chauhan said. But at the same time,Im sure people will understand the issue and we would host Indian Premier League and international matches here, Chauhan said. The former player,however,insisted that the match could have continued in an adjacent pitch. We offered another centre pitch and asked just one hours time to get it ready. Of course it required approval of both the captains but that was an option. The match should have continued for the sake of 45,000-50,000 people who had come to the stadium, Chauhan said.
