INDIA: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has filed a formal challenge against the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee’s decision to rate the Indore pitch as “poor” during the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Series between India and Australia in 2022-23.
The pitch rating comes with 3 demerit points, which puts the Holkar Stadium at risk of suspension. During the match, India was bowled out for just 109 runs in 33.2 overs after electing to bat first on a slow pitch.
India lost by nine wickets in the two days and one session that the match lasted. The pitch was criticized for not providing a balance between bat and ball and heavily favoring spinners from the start, with excessive and uneven bounce throughout the match.
According to ICC rules, when a venue achieves the threshold of 10 demerit points, it will be prohibited from hosting any international cricket for 24 months, while five demerit points will result in a ground’s prohibition from hosting any international cricket for 12 months.
BCCI has lodged a formal appeal against the ICC match referee’s decision, which was given just hours after the Test ended—a move that was deemed unusual by ICC.
According to sources, BCCI believes that the rating was given in haste and that the pitch was not as poor as it has been made out to be.
ICC will now have to take a formal call within 14 days, and a two-member committee of the ICC general manager and chairman of the Cricket Committee will review Broad’s assessment.
The chairman of the Cricket Committee is former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, while the general manager is Wasim Khan, the former CEO of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
However, as it is a BCCI protest, Ganguly may be replaced by another official. The decision of the committee will be final, and it remains to be seen whether the game will be suspended or not.
Pitch conditions have always been a contentious issue in cricket, with different countries having different views on what constitutes a good pitch. While some teams favor fast and bouncy pitches, others prefer slow and turning surfaces that aid spin bowlers.
ICC has strict regulations in place to ensure that pitches are fair and provide an equal opportunity for both teams to compete. The decision to challenge the pitch rating shows BCCI’s determination to protect the interests of Indian cricket and ensure that the Holkar Stadium does not face suspension.
The outcome of the appeal will be closely watched by cricket fans around the world, and it remains to be seen whether ICC will uphold the match referee’s decision or overturn it.
Also Read: India Lost the Indore Test Due to Rishabh Pant’s Absence: Ian Chappell
