‘Cleared’ Kotla has to improve
New Delhi, Nov. 23: Blacklisted after the abandoned India-Sri Lanka one-dayer late last year, the Ferozeshah Kotla is now back on the list of international venues.
The exile will formally end on January 1, 2011 thanks to a favourable report by International Cricket Council pitch consultant Andy Atkinson to the world body which stated that the controversial square was now ‘fit enough’ for international cricket again.
This means that Kotla will get to host its share of four matches at the World Cup next year.
“This is a huge burden off our chest. The ICC decision doesn’t mean that Kotla is just fit for the World Cup. It’s now fit for whatever international cricket that follows,” Delhi & Districts Cricket Association curator Venkat Sundaram said.
The playing surface here has been under repair under the ICC’s watchful eyes after it was labelled “dangerous” and “unfit” by a panel of experts early this year. Atkinson was at the venue last week when Delhi took on Gujarat in their Ranji Trophy match and seemed satisfied with the progress — except for the lack of bounce.
To fix this, the DDCA has shifted Delhi’s next two matches out of Kotla. The plan is to plant the fine-textured Tifway 419 Bermuda grass on one of the three pitches earmarked for the World Cup and at several patches on the other two.
However, the hybrid Bermuda grass requires full sunlight most of day for it to grow and spread properly. It has excellent heat tolerance but enters a dormant stage in winter months. And it can even die when temperatures drop below 10 degree Celsius, leading to patches on the surface. The uneven patches were one of the reasons why the last international played at the Kotla, on December 27 2009, was abandoned after 23.3 overs. Match officials had said the pitch was of “extremely variable bounce and too dangerous for further play”.
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