DDCA maintains pitch was not unfit

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) accepted International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision on Kotla fiasco but refused to agree to the finding that pitch was unfit.

The ICC ended the speculation on Kotla's status as a 2011 World Cup by accepting BCCI's unilateral offer of not hosting an international match there till the end of 2010.

The DDCA said it endorses the stand taken by the BCCI and also accept the ICC verdict but at the same it believes that pitch was not that bad to be classified as unfit.

The DDCA also said the match could have continued had officials accepted their proposal of shifting the tie to an alternative strip.

"Even though we believe that the match was abandoned without following the due process under the ICC laws, since no adversity is caused by this order. We accept this order.

"Some variation in the pitch can not term it as dangerous and unfit. The process with regard to continuing on an alternative pitch under law seven of the ICC laws for ODIs was not followed," DDCA said in a statement.

The ICC in its investigation into the December 27 fiasco ruled that pitch was indeed dangerous and unfit. The ICC has also decided to send its pitch consultant to Delhi for the remedial work and DDCA said it had no problem with that and they have already started the work.

"We welcome the decision of the ICC to send its curator to oversee a programme for developing the pitch to international standard.

"The DDCA is already preparing its pitch. Venkatsundaram along with a team of curators is overseeing the preparation of the pitch. Preparation is substantially complete. We intend to play a number of domestic matches in the month of February on the prepared pitches.

"IPL is scheduled to be held in Delhi in March-April 2010. We will endeavour to give a world quality pitch for the four World Cup matches," the statement read.