ICC upholds ban on Delhi's Feroze Shah Kotla ground

International Cricket Council Wednesday rejected BCCI's appeal to lift the year-long ban on Delhi's Feroze Shah Kotla ground which was deemed "unfit" after the recent India-Sri Lanka ODI was abandoned due to a dangerous pitch. ICC's independent appeals commissioner Michael Beloff QC upheld the decision after conducting the hearing via teleconference. "In his judgment Mr Beloff states that following due consideration of all the evidence and submissions from both the ICC and BCCI, the correct decision was taken by Mr Richardson and Mr Madugalle to declare the pitch to be dangerous and, therefore, unfit," the ICC said in a statement. "Mr Beloff added that the imposed suspension until the end of 2010 was proportionate in this case," it added.
The Feroze Shah Kotla pitch was declared unfit by ICC General Manager - Cricket David Richardson and ICC Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle following the abandonment of last December's India-Sri Lanka ODI after 23.4 overs. However, BCCI later appealed against the suspension which was turned down Wednesday. "We must now focus on making sure the New Delhi venue is ready in time for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said. "The ICC's pitch consultant will travel shortly to Feroz Shah Kotla, a ground with a long and proud history, to begin the process of remedial work that will ensure the pitch is restored to its former glory," added Lorgat.