By IANS,
New Delhi: Delhi’s Ferozeshah Kotla will not be denied 2011 World Cup matches as it will not be banned because it prepared a poor quality pitch for the India-Sri Lanka fifth One-dayer last month. Kotla will only invite a fine of $15,000, according to sources.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to appoint a panel of its experts to monitor the pitch preparation for the World Cup, IANS has learnt from an ICC source Thursday.
The decision was taken after ICC General Manager (Cricket) David Richardson and Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle considered the report of Alan Hurst, the ICC match referee who officiated in the Kotla tie during the Sri lanka series.
The decision is no surprise after ICC president David Morgan had hinted that Kotla will not lose its World Cup matches despite Hurst ruling the pitch “unfit” and “too dangerous” to play on and abandoning the match after 23.3 overs.
Hurst’s observation was seen as the harshest possible assessment under ICC laws and there was speculation that the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) may be banned from hosting international matches at least for one year.
Morgan had made it clear last week that it is not desirable from a cricketing point of view that the pitch at an important place like Delhi should be subjected to a ban. Instead, efforts should be made to make the track fit for an important event like the World Cup.