KSCA fined Rs 50,000 for the usage of plastic cups during IND-AUS ODI at Chinnaswamy

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) faced the wrath of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for allowing usage of single-use plastic and flexes at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the third ODI between India and Australia last Sunday. The civic authorities slapped the cricket body with a fine of Rs 50,000 after finding the plastic items strewn around.

BBMP representatives arrived at the venue the day after the match and their senior health inspector witnessed that the plastic items had not been cleared from the stands. The BBMP subsequently imposed the fine.

Vinay Mrithyunjaya, the KSCA spokesperson, said the use of plastic cups is banned in the stadium and was surprised that the BBMP found them. He said the stadium authorities have sought a detailed report on the incident, a Times of India report cited him as saying.

India thumped Australia in the third ODI in Bengaluru

The plastic episode dented an otherwise happy occasion. On the ground, India thrashed Australia by seven wickets to win the series 2-1 after losing the first match by 10 wickets. Rohit Sharma slammed a hundred to neutralise Steve Smith’s ton while captain Virat Kohli made 89 as India successfully chased down a target of 287 with more than two overs to spare. Mohammed Shami took four wickets earlier to put brakes on the Kangaroos’ scoring earlier.

Rohit, who took a brief break in the series against Sri Lanka before this, reached the 9,000-run club in ODIs as the third-fastest. He made the club in his 217th innings in Bengaluru and only Kohli (194) and former South Africa international AB de Villiers (205) has made it quicker than him. It was also Rohit’s 29th ODI hundred and one more will see him equalling former Australia captain Ricky Ponting’s tally of 30. Former great Sachin Tendulkar with 49 and Kohli with 43 are in the top two positions, respectively.

India next take on New Zealand in a five-match T20I series in their den starting Friday. Kohli’s side doesn’t have a bright record against the Kiwis in the T20Is as they have won only three out of 11 games against them so far. And in the absence of Shikhar Dhawan who has been ruled out of the tour because of a shoulder injury that he sustained while fielding in Bengaluru, Rohit will have even bigger a responsibility to deliver at the top.

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