Thaindian News

New Delhi, Jan 5 (IANS) The Karnataka team lodged a complaint with the Indian cricket board Wednesday expressing its unhappiness over the pitch for the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Baroda at Vadodara, saying was not “fit” for such an important game. Karnataka coach Sanath Kumar told IANS from Bangalore that the team management had lodged the complaint with the match referee, Delhi’s Manu Nayar, who confirmed receiving it.

“We have lodged a complaint on the under-prepared track. The pitch was not conducive for even street cricket, leave alone a Ranji Trophy semifinal. The change of venue at the last minute was also baffling. We got to know about it just as we were about to leave for Vadodara.

“We had prepared keeping in mind the seaming conditions at the Motibagh Stadium. But the pitch we played on, which is also an international venue, was simply unplayable,” Sanath Kumar told IANS.

Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary and former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath hinted that the association would take up the matter with the board.

“We will definitely take a call on it. But before taking any step I want to talk to the manager and the coach,” Srinath told IANS.

Nayar said he had received the complaint and that he would be forwarding it to the board.

Karnataka lost the semifinal to Baroda, in a shade over five sessions, by seven wickets. Karnataka were bowled out for 107 and 88 runs in the two innings while Baroda made 153 in the first innings and achieved the target of 43 runs by losing just three wickets.