International Cricket Council (ICC) president David Morgan does not favour an international ban on Ferozeshah Kotla because he believes the 2011 World Cup would be “poorer” without Delhi.
Kotla’s fate hangs in balance after the December 27 India-Sri Lanka ODI was abandoned because of a dangerous pitch.
Morgan said “appropriate” action would be taken on the issue but he was not in favour of a lengthy international ban on the venue.
“I am not at all sure that such a ban would be appropriate in this case.
“It’s not our desire that a pitch in an important city like New Delhi should be banned for a lengthy period,” Morgan said.
“The (2011) World Cup would be poor without matches being hosted in New Delhi,” he told a television channel.
Match Referee Alan Hurst had categorised the pitch as “unfit”, which is the harshest assessment, and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now preparing its defence of the track.
Morgan, however, made it clear that the process would take its own course.
“You can be sure that an appropriate decision will be made by two expert people on the subject. ICC has written to the BCCI and the BCCI has two weeks from receiving our letter to respond,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}“You can be sure that an appropriate decision will be made by two expert people on the subject. ICC has written to the BCCI and the BCCI has two weeks from receiving our letter to respond,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}ICC General Manager (Cricket) Dav Richardson and Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle will study the BCCI response to Match Referee’s report before determining sanction.