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ICC set to act on Durban, Trinidad grounds

After drawn Tests in South Africa and the West Indies, the Durban and Port of Spain venues risk sanctions, with outfields at both being rated as poor.

Durban's Kingsmead and Trinidad's Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain risk sanctions, with outfields at both venues being rated as "poor" by match referees following drawn Tests this week, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Wednesday.

The first Test between South Africa and New Zealand ended in a damp draw on Tuesday without a ball being bowled over the final three-and-a-half days due to a sodden outfield at Kingsmead.

Also on Tuesday, the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board launched an investigation after only 22 overs could be bowled over five days in the fourth and final Test between the West Indies and India at Queen's Park due to a soggy outfield.

The lack of action meant India clinched the four-match series 2-0 but surrendered top spot in the Test rankings to Pakistan, less than a week after taking over the No.1 position from Australia.

Match referees Andy Pycroft and Ranjan Madugalle submitted reports to the ICC, expressing concerns over the quality of the outfields at Kingsmead and Queen's Park Oval respectively.

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"The reports have been forwarded to Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), who now have 14 days to provide their responses," the ICC said in a statement.

According to ICC regulations, the maximum punishment for a venue which incurs the "poor" rating for the first time is a $US15,000 ($A19,700) fine, along with a warning and a directive for appropriate corrective action.


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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