Anti Corruption Unit to submit report on Motera pitch

The International Cricket Council's Anti Corruption Unit will be investigating the reasons for the delayed start in the fourth one-dayer between India and Pakistan at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad. The issue came under the ICC scanner when they learnt that a few people knew in advance that play wouldn't start on time.

The match was delayed by an hour and eventually reduced to 48 overs a side due to the dampness in the pitch, and subsequently no official reason was given on the matter. Dhiraj Parsana, the former Test batsman and curator who has tended the pitch for nearly 25 years, was surprised with the wet pitch and told The Khaleej Times, "As a curator, I should know how it happened. But I am completely in the dark. I suspect the blame would be laid in front of my door,"

Interestingly, the curator wasn't present at the ground on the day of the match because of an illness and learnt that the pitch was damp when he watched the game on TV. Pakistan eventually won the match by three wickets after successfully chasing the target of 315.