The Irani Cup match that was scheduled to be held at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur from September 21 to 25 will not be hosted there anymore and an alternate venue will be announced by the Board of Cricket Control for India (BCCI) by Tuesday.
A report in The Hindu says tha the Board’s Ground and Pitches Committee chairman Venkat Sundaram inspected the Sawai Man Singh Stadium (SMSS) facilities on Saturday and decided to move the match out of Jaipur.
“Due to heavy rain, the outfield and pitch are not in the best of conditions and we can’t take the chance for such a big match. It wouldn’t have been possible to get the facilities ready by September 21,” said Sundaram was quoted in the report.
The Rajasthan Sports Council in the meanwhile sought to clear its role in the episode. According to the RSC spokesman, the Rajasthan Cricket Council (RCA) had delayed in applying for renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and it led to the present situation.
“The RCA applied for permission to stage the match at the SMSS on July 30. We had informed them on August 9 that they had to come through the proper channel since the MOU between us had expired. We had assured quick and positive response provided they applied to the RSC on the prescribed application,” said the RSC spokesman.
Meanwhile a report in The Times of India writes that the story behind Jaipur losing its hosting rights is due to loss of one’s ego and apathy. The fight for supremacy between the Rajasthan State Sports Council and the Rajasthan Cricket Associationhas resulted in loss of face for the state.
After having barred the RCA officials from entering the ground, the sports council did not have the equipment to maintain a ground of Sawai Mansingh’s stature. The battle was taken to the court and finally the RCA did get possession of the ground on September 3. But then cricket body claimed it was too late to get ready for the Irani Trophy.
"The sports council is entirely to be blamed," an RCA official was quoted in the report.
Sports council was quick to hit back and said: "RCA never wanted to hold this match as it would not earn them money," an official said. "If Indore can conduct this match with just 10 days preparations, why can't the RCA?" The sports council demanded that the pitch inspected by a "neutral expert."