New Delhi: In 2015, curators across the country received criticism from several former cricketers for preparing poor surfaces for domestic cricket matches.
Out of 108 matches played this season, 17 ended on Day 3, while 9 were completed on Day 2.
Home teams won 36 matches and commanded a first innings lead in most other games.
The situation even compelled the great Rahul Dravid to say, “If we keep playing on bad wickets like these, we are not going to produce good cricketers.”
The current BCCI dispensation appears to have paid heed to his words.
According a report on Hindustan Times, the Indian board is planning to conduct all matches at neutral venues.
“I am going to propose that all Ranji matches should be at neutral venues at the next captains’ and coaches’ meeting. Let us see what their view is. I feel that domestic cricket should be played on competitive pitches. We will propose this at the working committee meeting also,” Anurag Thakur, BCCI secretary, told HT.
Despite BCCI's guidelines for pitch preparation, home teams continue to pressurize curators to prepare favorable pitches, sometimes even a day before the match.
With some of India's best cricketers playing on competitive pitches, the board is hoping to improve the overall quality of domestic cricket.
