The International Cricket Council (ICC) has launched a probe after Pandurang Salgaonkar, the curator of the Pune pitch, was revealed promising to pass on pitch information to a group of undercover journalists ahead of the second ODI between India and New Zealand.
An India Today TV sting report showed Salgaonkar promising to pass on information on the playing surface in addition to being open to manipulating the pitch to the reporters who had posed as bookies.
The BCCI has already sought a detailed report into the incident from the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) while Salgaonkar has been immediately fired from his role.
“A strict action has been taken against the pitch curator and the employment relationship between Pandurang Salgaonkar and MCA stands terminated,” BCCI Chief Executive Rahul Johri said in a statement.
“The BCCI is in touch with the MCA and appropriate measures will be taken with regards to the matter. The BCCI will continue to enforce strict measures in case of such misconduct in the future,” he went on to add.
Breaking now: Powerful expose on cricket pitch fixing. Pune curator caught on camera fixing pitch for bookies ahead of today’s ODI. @BCCI
— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) October 25, 2017
The ICC on its part said they were in touch with Anti Corruption Unit Officer deployed in India for further information into the matter.
“We are investigating the allegations from Pune this morning,” an ICC spokesman told Reuters.
“As with all international cricket, the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit has an ICC ACU Manager on the ground in India and we are in close contact with him.
“We are now looking to establish the facts and will make no further comment whilst this is ongoing,” the official concluded.
The second ODI at Pune went ahead as scheduled after ICC Match referee Chris Broad cleared the pitch after an inspection.