Fifth ODI between India and Sri Lanka called off because of bad pitch

It was very shameful event for Indian capital 'Delhi' not being able to organize a successful one day international cricket match which is going to host Commonwealth games to be held next year. The ODI between India and Sri Lanka was called off after 23.3 overs because of extremely poor pitch conditions. The cancellation was called at 11:20 am when Sri Lanka had made only 85 runs by losing 5 wickets.

There was continuous uproar over poor pitch conditions at the venue ever since the T20 Champions League and the India Australia ODI was played here on 31st Oct. BCCI which always shows alacrity in making money from cricket failed to heed the complaints and did nothing to modify the pitch conditions. BCCI has come into action after the match was spoiled because of already made complaints.

The BCCI immediately suspended pitches and grounds committee and its chief Daljit Singh, who had the responsibility to prepare Kotla's surface. The DDCA’s own local curator Vijay Bahadur Mishra, its ground and pitches committee chairman, Chetan Chauhan and committee’s convener Sunil Dev have quit from their designation. BCCI has presented a nice example of locking the stable after the horse has bolted.

However If this shameful incident of Cricket World is compared with attack on Sri Lankan Cricketers in Pakistan early this year, BCCI will feel less guilty. Attack on Sri Lankan Cricketers on 3rd March 2009 in Pakistan is unforgettable ghastly incident and the day can be termed as a black day in history of Cricket. Former Pakistani Captain Javed Miandad himself said “ What has happened today in cricket can never happen in sports anywhere in the world. Obviously, my sympathies are with the Sri Lankan team.” Six Sri Lankan cricketers and their assistant coach were injured while their security guards were among eight people killed in the first ever terror strike in the history of the sport, forcing Sri Lankan authority to immediately call off the tour.

Sri Lankan wicket keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara, spinner Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana, Suranga Lakmal and Thilina Thushara were injured in the attack at the busy Liberty Chowk traffic roundabout, located less than a kilometre from Gaddafi Stadium, at around 9 am. Assistant coach Paul Farbrace also sustained minor injuries in the brazen attack, carried out by a dozen masked terrorists armed with rifles, grenades and rocket-launchers. The gunmen ambushed the luxury bus ferrying Sri Lankan cricket team to Gaddafi Stadium.

Sri Lankan Cricketers must be having memories of that brutal attack and would be feeling thankful to Indian authorities for at least not allowing such life threatening attacks to take place.