Umar Nazir- (Source:@Johns/X.com)
Ranji Trophy 2024-25 has been hit with controversy as Jammu & Kashmir head coach has accused Baroda of cheating and alleged them of fixing the pitch. Notably, on January 30, Baroda locked horns against J&K at the Reliance Cricket Stadium, Vadodara.
It is a crucial match for both teams as they are in the race to qualify for the next round and are the top two placed teams in the group. Meanwhile, the controversy is that the Jammu and Kashmir, batting first, put on a good show with the bat on day 1, but they observed a change in colour on day 3 of the pitch, doubting a change in the pitch.
According to a report in The Indian Express, J&K head coach Ajay Sharma felt the colour of the pitch had changed and was sure that the Baroda team had tampered the pitch to help the bowlers as his side was on top on day 1 . He brought up the issue with umpires and the match referee Arjan Kripal Singh. The issue led to a delay in the start of the match by around 1.5 hours.
Baroda Hit Back At The Allegations
In the latest events, Baroda Cricket Association has quashed off such reports and remarked that no such tampering was made.
“The allegations made by the J&K coach are baseless. The outfield was wet and due to winter there was moisture on the pitch and even the outfield was wet. The umpire too felt the same. Anyone who has played cricket will understand that during winter there is moisture on the pitch and sometimes the outfield takes time to dry, " the newspaper reported quoted a Baroda Cricket Association official as saying.
Further, the board also threatened to complain to BCCI against J&K because of their baseless allegations.
Sometimes matches are delayed but calling it pitch-fixed and blaming the association for this, we will not accept these allegations. We will be approaching the BCCI for remarks made by the coach," he added.
At the time of writing this article, J&K are well ahead in the match with a 346-run lead.