Minor ground,major stars as Delhi take on Punjab

The Roshanara wicket had recently come under the scanner especially when the Delhi vs Vidarbha sixth round game was interrupted for uneven bounce on the first day. However,the BCCI’s pitch committee has issued a clean chit to the venue. The DDCA working committee too protested the use of Roshanara but the players and the team management had made it clear that they wanted to continue playing at the venue to continue their winning run.

“Ferozeshah Kotla is undoubedtly our strong venue. But we want to play at the Roshanara because we had won two matches here and it has helped the team climb the table. The players had no problem playing at Kotla but since we are winning here,why break the habit,” said Delhi coach Sanjeev Sharma. “The venue suits the strength of the side,so why not. Delhi were made to play at Surat instead of Ahmedabad against Gujarat,Sambalpur instead of Cuttack against Orissa because it suited their bowlers. We have a good pace attack and I don’t see a problem playing on the sporting Roshnara wicket,” Sharma said.

The DDCA working committee eventually withdrew their protest against the game being played at Roshanara. “We have decided to go with the players and the management if they want to play at Roshanara. They want to continue their winning run and we have agreed for this match. The next match is any way going to be played at Kotla against Kanataka as it is being televised and Roshanara cannot cater to the needs of the broadcasters. But we are holding a meeting on the issue of selection of outside players and we will make sure that it becomes a law to not select any player who isn’t a Delhi domicile,” said Dr Tameem Ahmed,convener of the DDCA sports working committee.