Why Shoaib Akhtar is upset over Pune ‘pitch-fixing’ controversy

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar expressed his shock over the alleged ‘pitch-fixing’ incident that took place ahead of India-New Zealand second ODI in Pune

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has expressed concerns after a ‘pitch-fixing’ claim shocked the cricket fraternity, just a few hours before the start of the second ODI between India and New Zealand in Pune. Akhtar said such instances should be dealt with an ‘iron fist’. (Pune ODI highlights | Scorecard)

Shoaib Akhtar said he was ‘speechless’ after hearing about the ‘pitch-fixing’ scandal ahead of the second ODI between India and New Zealand in Pune. (Getty Images)

Pandurang Salgaonkar, the 68-year-old former First-Class cricketer for a decade and the head curator at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Ground in Pune, was suspended after he was alleged to have agreed to tamper with the pitch.

Salgaonkar was also accused to have allowed journalists from India Today, posing as cricket bookies, on the pitch, which is strictly against the rules set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

READ | Underpaid pitch curators soft targets for bookies: Venkat Sundaram

In a series of tweets separated over several hours, Akhtar said he was ‘shocked’ to learn about the incident.

The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) had immediately suspended Salgaonkar, and the match progressed after the pitch was inspected by ICC match referee Chris Broad.