According to ICC regulations, the maximum punishment for a venue which incurs the “poor” rating for the first time is a US$15,000 fine (NZ$20,500), along with a warning and a directive for appropriate corrective action.
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A second or subsequent occasion inside five years would carry a fine of 30,000 United States dollars (£22,700).
The reports have been forwarded to Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), who now have 14 days to provide their responses, the release added. CSA’s response will further be reviewed by ICC general manager, Geoff Allardice whereas David Boon will review WICB’s reply.
The outfields for the rain-ruined Tests between the West Indies and India, and South Africa and New Zealand, have been rated “poor” by the International Cricket Council.
In the wake of the abandoned first match of the Test series between the Proteas and the New Zealand at Kingsmead, the Durban-based franchise is taking steps to ensure that its status as a premier Test cricket venue is not in doubt, and will compensate fans for tickets purchased on days when no play was possible during the Test. However, with there not being enough covers at the ground to protect the bowlers’ run-ups or the outfield, and no super sopper available either, the outfield did not recover enough to allow play.
The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and the Queen’s Park Cricket Club have launched a joint-investigation into the wash out of the match in Port of Spain on Monday.
India’s draw against West Indies meant they slipped from first to second in the Test rankings, ending the tour with a 2-0 series scoreline.
The Durban Test was also scheduled in what is traditionally the off season in South Africa, during the winter.
Questions about the ground’s drainage system and mopping up operations have been raised after rain halted play just before lunch on last Thursday’s opening day and the action never resumed despite an abundance of sunshine on the following four days.
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There were concerns over the Kingsmead outfield being underprepared even before the match began, as it had been relaid in June following complaints from South Africa and New Zealand that the surface was too hard during the limited-overs games played there past year.
