Believe it or not, the Delhi and District Cricket Association will host a match on the same wicket today that was deemed unfit for play during the India-Sri Lanka fifth ODI on Sunday.
Believe it or not, the Delhi and District Cricket Association will host a match on the same wicket today that was deemed unfit for play during the India-Sri Lanka fifth ODI on Sunday.
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Radhey Shyam Sharma was recalled by the DDCA |
The DDCA's confidence of taking a gamble to play an England under-14 match against the Delhi under-14 side on the controversial wicket is because of the return of their old-hand, Radhey Shyam Sharma.
The 74-year-old Sharma has nearly 50 years of experience in the field and became chief curator at the Kotla in 1996. He had been recently sidelined by the DDCA with disastrous consequences. He received an SOS from the desperate association and was up for the responsibility.
"I was called by the DDCA authorities and have taken up the challenge. I got three hours to work on the wicket and have tried my best.
We are organising the England under-14 versus Delhi under-14 game on the same wicket on which Sunday's ODI was played. I am hoping the wicket will play well and no player will get injured," Radhey Shyam told MiD DAY yesterday.
It is a crucial period for the DDCA as a long ban looms large on the Feroze Shah Kotla. The International Cricket Council is likely to take a decision on the pitch fiasco in a couple of weeks' time and the DDCA is trying its best to salvage their reputation.
"We have a Gujarat versus Delhi under-19 game here on January 3. We will play that game also on the same wicket. The success of that game is important because if it goes well then a positive message will go to the cricket world," said Radhey Shyam. The curator is in the twilight of his life and if he can salvage the situation for DDCA with his experience, it could be a perfect finish to his career.
"I am praying that Kotla is not banned for two years which will make us miss the World Cup. We hope they let us off with a penalty. Even the great Sunil Gavaskar has said that Delhi shouldn't be given such a heavy punishment. I have the confidence that our wicket will be the best in the country in the World Cup," he signed off.
