Cricket: Pitch tampering claims before Black Caps ODI

Indian star MS Dhoni inspects the pitch. Photo / AP

Prominent curator Pandurang Salgaoncar was dismissed by India's cricket board after a sting operation suggested pitch rigging in the leadup to yesterday's ODI against New Zealand in Pune.

Salgaoncar was sacked by India's BCCI for "malpractice" which was caught on camera by undercover reporters from India Today TV a day before the game.

The curator was shown talking to the reporters about the pitch with Salgaoncar discussing how many runs the pitch would produce - "it is very good. It will garner 337 runs, and 337 will be chaseable" he is alleged to have said.

As it happened New Zealand, batting first, were able to make just 230 for nine in their 50 overs.

In a clip a reporter asked Salgaoncar if a player or team - the identify was bleeped out - could get a "favour".

"We will do betting on that. But .... ***** we want a favour for tomorrow's match," the reporter said.

"That will be done good. I told you," Salgaoncar responded.

In the video, Salgaonkar tells the reporters that he isn't allowed to let anyone inspect the pitch, but did so even with a BCCI pitch administrator nearby. He went on to say if anyone asked if the pitch had been seen by unauthorised people, he would deny it.

This is not the first time the curator has been in trouble with officials.

He was involved in another pitch controversy this year after the state of the pitch for the first test against Australia was rated poor by the International Cricket Council match referee Chris Broad.

Australia won the match - the first test at the ground - by 333 runs, with 31 wickets falling to the spinners.

"A strict action has been taken against the pitch curator and the employment relationship between Mr Pandurang Salgaonkar and MCA stands terminated," Indian board chief executive Rahul Johri said.

Salgaoncar is a former first-class fast bowler for Maharashtra, who took 214 wickets in 63 matches, and served as chief selector for the Maharashtra Ranji Trophy team.

An inquiry is pending and as it is an international match, the ICC will be involved.

The Maharashtra Stadium has staged six international matches since late 2012 and this was the third ODI there. It may be the last for some time.