Kotla pitch unfit for int’l matches: Harbhajan

Harbhajan Singh said practice games should have been held on the wicket before the one-dayer against Sri Lanka.

Endorsing his India team-mate Gautam Gambhir’s view that the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch was not suitable for international matches,off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Wednesday said practice games should have been held on the wicket before the one-dayer against Sri Lanka.

Asked his comments on the pitch fiasco which led to the abandonment of the India-Sri Lanka fifth ODI on Sunday,Harbhajan said there was something wrong with the Kotla surface and it could have been dangerous for even Indian players if the home side had batted first.

“The pitch was behaving in surprising manner and Sri Lankan players got injuries due to fault of the pitch. The decision to call off the match was right,” Harbhajan,who was here to witness the cricket tournament in the name of his father Sardev Singh at Burlton Park Stadium,said.

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“It is always better to hold some practice matches on any new pitch,instead of directly going for international matches,” he said.

Harbhajan said the youngsters in the Indian team have performed well whenever they got chances and that will serve India well in the 2011 World Cup.

“The newcomers have performed well. By the time of World Cup they will attain experience as well and ultimately prove to be an asset to the team,” he said.

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