BCCI secy Anurag Thakur promises better pitches in domestic cricket

New Delhi: Certainly aware of the trend of preparing pitches as per the demands of the home team in the domestic competitions, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Anurag Thakur has promised better and balanced playing conditions.

Talking to Sunday Mid-Day, Thakur has called for Ranji Trophy matches to be played at neutral venues.

"I personally feel if the pitch is given to the curator then what's the harm in playing at neutral venues? This way, the curator will also be independent. This is my viewpoint," Thakur said.

He revealed that domestic captains expressed the need for balanced pitches in the last BCCI's captains and coaches conclave.

"For proper development of the game, it was discussed that we should prepare wickets which are helpful for everyone — fast bowlers and spinners. The pitches should have good bounce and carry. However, we will take feedback from captains and coaches (about the wickets) and see what best we can do," he added.

It's startling to notice that 15 outright victories were witnessed out of 24 games in the last two rounds of the Ranji Trophy group stage this season, in contrast to the last four seasons, where only four matches finished inside two days.

Off those 15 games, four finished inside two days while six matches ended up being three-day affairs.