India vs Windies: MSK Prasad lands himself in the 'Pitch Puja' controversy

Team India has decimated the Windies in the two Tests that they’ve played recently. Further, the domination continued into the first ODI as well where the side won by a big margin. However, the Windies surged an unbelievable comeback in the second ODI to draw the match. But, it is for some other controversial reasons that Chairman of selectors MSK Prasad and the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) are in the news at the moment after this game.

MSK Prasad, along with the pitch curators, has performed some rituals on the pitch on the day of the match. Although the ACA officials believe in the tradition and do the same before the start of a new season, it was never done on the day of the match. Further, performing the rituals on the pitch itself didn’t go down well with all.

An ACA/VDCA official lashes out at MSK Prasad

Even though the rituals haven’t affected the pitch or anything else, GJJ Raju, a former Andhra cricketer and ACA/VDCA official had other opinions. He called the chief selector a ‘cricket illiterate’ for the act as he felt that this would take the attention off the players’ hard work.

“How can MSK take part in such an activity? He is the Chairman of the National Selection Committee and it doesn’t suit his position. This is what happens when ‘cricket illiterates’ are in positions which they are not suited for. The game is secular and bringing religion and superstitious beliefs into the picture is not proper. This is a shameful act on the part of MSK,” said GJJ Raju as quoted in the Times of India.

“The game is won or lost on the skills of the players and invoking the gods will not help anyone. Aren’t we making a fool of ourselves by indulging in such cheap gimmicks? The BCCI should take a note of it and make sure that such things do not happen in the future,” Raju added.

A BCCI match referee said that these activities were fine as long as the pitch isn’t damaged. He added that all of these shouldn’t be done once the umpire takes over the proceedings.

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