Pune pitch curator to be suspended for giving out information

Pune pitch curator Pandurang Salgaoncar is set to be suspended after he was found to be giving inside information to the reporters, disguised as bookies, ahead of the second ODI of the three-match series between India and New Zealand.

In a sting operation done by a leading news production house, Salgaonkar was caught on camera revealing that the pitch will be made according to their ('bookies') demands.

According to a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source, the pitch curator will be suspended by Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) president Abhay Apte.

The BCCI source further revealed that the match referee will take a final call on calling off the second ODI at the Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium.

According to the BCCI and the International Cricket Council (ICC), rules state that no one - other than the officials - can come inside the stadium or inspect the pitch for that matter.

Meanwhile, BCCI acting president C.K. Khanna has also written to the board's anti-corruption unit head Neeraj Kumar to get in touch with the team, who are deputed at Pune and send the report on the issue.

India are currently trailing 0-1 in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, having slumped to a shocking six-wicket defeat in the opening match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.