Daljit Singh, sacked chief of the Board for Control of Cricket in India’s Grounds and Pitches Committee, lays the blame for the Kotla fiasco at the feet of Chetan Chauhan.
In a report submitted to the BCCI, a copy of which is with
HT, Singh details the role he played, how things
went wrong and that Chauhan had “taken over” preparation of the pitch.
Chauhan, former India opener and Delhi & Districts Cricket Association vice-president, has resigned as chairman of the DDCA’s pitch panel. “It was a joint effort. The DDCA pitch committee worked under Daljit’s guidance,” he said. “I don’t want to indulge in a blame game. We had faith in Daljit.”
In media interviews on Tuesday, Singh accepted partial culpability, but his report has the damning details. He writes that the biggest mistake was not trying the pitch out in advance.
“On the 24th afternoon, while I was at the ground, Chauhan and DDCA curator Vijay Bahadur Mishra started bowling with a white ball on the pitches in the middle. After a few tries, Chauhan declared the match would be played on the same pitch as the last ODI between India and Australia.”
Singh adds that a testing session involving mediumpacers and spinners was planned for the 25th, but was declared unnecessary by Chauhan. Singh also refuted the charge that he had totally overseen things. “I would normally go for a day or so every 15-20 days because of my various other engagements. I should not run away from my responsibilities and was a part of preparations for the match.”
Singh further lists the technical aspects of preparation, saying Chauhan “made all the major decisions.” When the DDCA contacted Singh to get some grass on the pitch after the October Australia ODI , he suggested 'winter rye grass' as no type grass would grow in cold weather.
“While accepting my suggestions, DDCA authorities decided to plant the local dhoob variety along with the rye grass on the three centre pitches,” Singh said. “Dhoob was planted on the centre pitches November 7 using the 'sprigging method', entailing use of hand spades which substantially disturbed the surface. The winter grass was planted on the entire square adopting broadcast method which did not disturb the surface. Whereas the winter grass flourished after 8-10 days, the dhoob did not do well at all - a fact pointed out to DDCA authorities before starting the whole exercise.”
Singh said the square developed a fungus on December 12 as a result of contamination from the dhoob. “Three sprays of fungicide were required to arrest the problem, which delayed preparation. When the grass was reduced to 6 mm height (on December 23), workers observed that the surface underneath the centre pitches was uneven due the use of hand spade at the time of sprigging. Repair work was undertaken to remedy the unevenness.”
Singh returns to the point that the repaired pitch should have been played on. “The pitch should have been tested by holding a local match or a practice session at least 7-10 days before the event and fine-tuned it. No practice match was played on the re-grassed surface.”