South Africa had registered a mammoth 214-run win over India in the final ODI to clinch the series 3-2.
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Mumbai: The Mumbai Cricket Association’s managing committee will discuss Wankhede Stadium curator Sudhir Naik’s complaint of verbal abuse against Indian Team Director Ravi Shastri on October 30 here.
Following the second biggest defeat for India, in terms of score, Ravi Shastri is believed to have sarcastically complimented Naik saying, “great wicket” and the star commentator reportedly followed that with an expletive leading to a heated argument. Naik, feeling offended reminded Ravi that he too has been a Test cricketer and that he should not be giving him lessons on wicket preparations.
“Naik has lodged a complaint with MCA”.
Naik, who was appointed by the Mumbai Cricket Association, to oversee Wankhede pitch preparation is held in high esteem by former cricketers. The team management can tell the state board how it wants the pitch and then it is conveyed to the curator, that’s how it works. He has alleged that he got a message about preparing a turning track just two days ahead of the game, which left him with insufficient time to alter the nature of the pitch. “Well done”, while denying that he abused Naik.
The issue has been taken up with MCA officials including Vice President Dilip Vengsarkar. The controversy is another unwanted controversy for Team India, which is still reeling from the embarrassing loss on home turf.
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“We will look into the details of Team Director (Shastri) allegedly confronting curator of Wankhede Stadium yesterday. Same yardstick will be applied”, Thakur told media. We had done the same in Australia.
