Venkat queers the pitch, says Delhi not fit to host Test

The former Delhi and North Zone batsman also lashed out on those who always blame the pitch after losing a match, be it domestic or international. ‘‘It has become almost customary for some people to put the blame for their poor performances. It’s the curator’s job to prepare wickets to the best of his ability. He doesn’t prepare a wicket to suit one team or the other. Cricketers should be prepared to play on any surface that’s given to them. Why should they always expect only turning tracks?,’’ he questioned.

Venkat, however, stressed the need for having trained curators at every centre. He wanted cricketers to be involved in pitch preparations. ‘‘I am ready to help people at the job if associations come forward,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, the UPCA’s decision not to host the third Test between India and Sri Lanka later this month has not come as a surprise to the pitches committee chairman.

‘‘I feared it (UPCA backing out) would happen some day. How can any association run the game without its own ground and infrastructure? We talk of taking the game to every nook and corner of the country but most major units still don’t have grounds of their own,’’ he said.

Venkat also came down heavily on DDCA for the manner in which the game was being run in Delhi. Putting the entire blame for the sorry state of affairs in DDCA to the domination of non-cricketers, he said: ‘‘People with little or no knowledge in the game are running the show here. What else can one expect from such people?’’

Venkat, who declined the offer of Ranji selector’s post earlier this season, said: ‘‘I felt I couldn’t have contributed to the game under the prevailing conditions. No cricketer would want to invovle himself unless they are treated with dignity and honour and given a freehand in running the game.’’