Committee formed to probe LCCA 'negligence'

With the Quaid-e-Azam trophy's hectic schedule beginning to take a toll on the pitches, the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) ground was unable to get the track ready in time for the seventh round of the premier national first-class championship. The venue, which is situated next to the Gaddafi Stadium, was set to host the match between Lahore Whites and Karachi Whites, but due to wet conditions and alleged negligence of the ground staff, the day's play was called off without a ball being bowled.

The LCCA formed a committee headed by former Test umpire Mian Aslam to inquire into the pitch controversy. The pitch, along with the field within the circle, was unplayable due to excessive dampness as it wasn't handed over to the match officials before the toss. The groundsmen were seen rolling the pitch at the time of toss, and after various inspections, the ground remained unplayable before the day was called off.

It doesn't help that the city has been gripped by smog for the last four days, with the sun nowhere to be seen. Even so, another first-class game between Lahore Blues and Islamabad began on time at the Gaddafi Stadium, even though the contest was disrupted after the second session due to bad light. The game saw 59 overs bowled on the opening day, with Islamabad on 25 for 1, having dismissed Lahore Blues for 220.

The LCCA administration, in its preliminary inquiry about the pitch, found the curator guilty of negligence, while PCB awaits the match referee Aziz ur Rehman's report before taking any action. This is the second complaint about the venue this season after former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul- Haq had criticised the "underprepared pitch" and questioned the quality of pitches after the fourth round at LCCA.

"I think it is seriously negligent to allow this state of affairs with the premier first-class tournament of the country," Aslam told ESPNcricinfo. "I visited the ground in the later hours of the day and was surprised to see the match being called off due to wet conditions. The venue has been idle since October 24, and yet they are not able to prepare it on time. I am getting a lot of information at this stage which I cannot reveal, but what I can say at this stage is that it's a serious blunder and someone has to take responsibility for it."