Saurashtra Cricket Association slams Sunil Gavaskar over Ranji pitch fiasco

New Delhi: The honorary secretary of the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Niranjan Shah strongly condemned Sunil Gavaskar’s claim in which the Little Master put allegations on the association for preparing doctored pitches in the Ranji Trophy matches.

Shah even claimed that Gavaskar himself used to ask for spin-friendly pitches at home in his days as captain of the Indian cricket team.

"I respect him for whatever he has achieved in cricket but that doesn't give him the liberty to say whatever he wants. I strongly object to whatever he has said and also condemn his irresponsible comments," Shah told the Times of India.

“How can he call it 'doctored pitches' when more than 250-300 runs were scored everyday? One team scores 300 plus and the other team is bowled out for 60 and 90 - is this what happens on a doctored pitch?," added Shah.

Earlier, Gavaskar had criticised Saurashtra's home pitches, which have produced two-day results in the ongoing Ranji season.

"We have just had a case where Saurashtra has won three of its Ranji Trophy matches in two days with Ravindra Jadeja opening the bowling. He is turning the ball square," Former Indian skipper said.

"As soon as a team scores 600 or 700 an inspector should be sent to the ground and he should be asked to make a report. And if he gives a negative report, which in Indian cricket... then action needs to be taken... I think the best way would be to deduct points. That will ensure not too many doctored pitches are made in domestic cricket," added Gavaskar.