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Musharraf's Delhi visit stumps BCCI
BCCI's pitch inspectors are yet to give the green signal to Feroz Shah Kotla and there are fears that the Pak President's trip to New Delhi may be in vain.
Cricket authorities were left in an awkward dilemma on Thursday after India said Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf would watch a one-day cricket match in New Delhi next month.
The under-renovation Feroz Shah Kotla ground in the Indian capital was selected as a provisional venue for an April 17 match between India and Pakistan following delays in construction and laying a new pitch.
The Indian cricket board agreed to overlook the incomplete stands but insisted that Kotla will host the match only if the outfield and the new wickets were approved by the board's pitch inspectors, who have yet to give the green signal.
When the fresh wicket was tested last week during a friendly match between lawyers, the bounce was so low that organisers hurriedly laid out matting on the turf so that the game could be played.
Officials now fear Musharraf may make the trip to Delhi in vain. There may not be a match in the city at all.
"Whether we have the privilege of hosting the Pakistan President depends entirely on the pitch," said Sunil Dev, sports secretary of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).
Another DDCA official SP Bansal added: "Besides getting the okay on the pitch, we also need a certificate from local municipal authorities for holding the game at a stadium still under construction.
"We have our fingers crossed."
The pitch inspectors, who refused to give the Kotla the green light on two previous visits to the ground in the last six weeks, were expected to take a decision next week.
