No action against WACA pitch partiers
Cricket Australia says no action will be taken against WACA ground staff who stunned the Indian team and sparked outrage in India by drinking and walking on the pitch the night before the third Test against Australia.
- Associated Press
- Updated: January 13, 2012 04:50 PM IST
Cricket Australia says no action will be taken against WACA ground staff who stunned the Indian team and sparked outrage in India by drinking and walking on the pitch the night before the third Test against Australia.
An Indian news channel filmed 15 people, including members of the WACA ground staff, drinking on the wicket after having removed the pitch covers.
Graeme Wood, the outgoing chief executive officer of the Western Australian Cricket Association, described the incident as a "storm in a teacup" and CA confirmed there were no grounds for disciplinary action.
The International Cricket Council said because the incident happened prior to the start of the Test it had no jurisdiction to take action against the WACA or CA.
"If it happened during the Test match it would have been serious and there will be a lot to answer to," ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle told The Associated Press.
India did not officially complain to CA or the ICC, but Rajiv Shukla, a BCCI member said in India that action must be taken.
"It was a poor look but no damage was done to the pitch," Peter Young, CA general manager for public affairs said. "Given that the pitch is under WACA control until the day of the match, that is the end of it."
Curator Cam Sutherland admitted he had been made to look unprofessional, but said it is a tradition for WACA staff to "toast the pitch" the night before the Test starts.