Curious case of Pune curator amid betting pitch

Pune/Chandigarh, October 26
Barely hours before the second One-Day International between India and New Zealand was to start, a TV channel sting operation on the pitch curator caused a sensation and deep embarrassment to India and the Indian cricket board (BCCI).

The sting operation by India Today TV showed the curator, Pandurang Salgaoncar, commit several very serious offences. He agreed to provide information on the pitch to the undercover reporter; he agreed to share information with the “bookie” in the future in return for a share of the earnings from betting; and he also let the bookie step on the pitch yesterday. The TV channel claimed that Salgaoncar agreed to tamper with the pitch to suit the requirements of the bookies; however, in the report, he does not explicitly agree to tamper with the pitch.
The controversy did not affect the match, which went ahead as scheduled after a routine inspection of the pitch by International Cricket Committee (ICC) match referee Chris Broad. BCCI sacked Salgaoncar and put Ramesh Mhamunkar, a member of its grounds and pitches committee, in charge of the pitch.
BCCI said it will carry out a “detailed inquiry”.
In the TV report, Salgaoncar is seen chatting with the undercover reporter in the ground and in a car. The reporter is not shown to be introducing himself as a bookie, though he says several times that he would bet on the match, and on other matches in future, and share the profits with Salgaoncar.
At one point, the reporter asks if two certain fast bowlers could be provided some help from the pitch, and Salgaoncar answers that the pitch in Pune always helps fast bowlers.
The reporter also asks if a team/player could be given a “favour” for the match, and Salgaoncar answers: “I told you, this will be a 340-run wicket, either way.”
The reporter replies: “You have said that, we will do betting on that. But for ****** (name of player or team beeped out), we want a favour for tomorrow’s match…”
“Woh achcha ho jayega, bola na — It will happen well, I told you,” he says.
Most of the above could be simply excessive chatter by a man fond of talking a bit too much, but there is a damning part to come. The reporter tells Salgaoncar: “In future, we want that you share pitch information with us, and we will bet… Whatever benefits we make, we will share that.” Salgaoncar says: “Yes.”
Incidentally, it’s virtually impossible to change the character of a pitch in one day without leaving very visible, suspicious marks on it.
Salgaoncar had predicted a score of 337 for the team batting first today, while New Zealand made 230/9.
Early this year, the pitch at the same venue for the Test match against Australia was rated “poor” by ICC. Australians had thrashed India by 333 runs on a turning track on which India were bowled out for 105 and 107.
Salgaoncar is a former Maharashtra pace bowler who was considered an India prospect in the 1970s. Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his first book, Sunny Days, that Salgaoncar was unlucky not to play for India.
A BCCI official said about the curator: “He gets Rs 65,000 salary per month from the MCA and also a BCCI pension. He is among BCCI’s independent curators.” It seems Salgaoncar wanted to make a bit more by selling information to people willing to pay.