The International Cricket Council on Wednesday launched an investigation into the pitch tampering claims against a ground official ahead of the second One-day international between India and New Zealand in Pune. Pandurang Salgaoncar, the pitch manager at the Pune ground, was allegedly exposed during an undercover sting by local India Today TV that claimed he doctored the surface ahead of the Wednesday's match.

ICC officials cleared the match to start on schedule after India's cricket board banned Salgaoncar from the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) ground. "We are investigating the allegations from Pune this morning, as with all international cricket," an ICC spokesman said. "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."

Salgaonkar also showed the men around the Pune surface the day before the ODI, breaching the ICC rules governing access to the pitch.The 68-year-old was a fast bowler from Maharashtra state in the 1970s before taking up the role of curator with the state association.

Courtesy:Times of India