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Pitch preparation is the key: Dalmiya

International Cricket Council president Jagmohan Dalmiya said that "sporting wickets for good cricket" would be the slogan that could ensure the growth of the game.

Talking to the media in Vishakapattinam, Dalmiya said that while host nations might prepare pitches to suit their players, the ICC was keen that good cricket be played around the world.

The ICC boss said that during the most recent meeting of the ICC, it was decided to ask match referees to report extensively on the state of pitches on which international games were held. He also added that a seperate division of the ICC, manned by development officers, would be set up to visit international venues and advice the local curators on pitch preparation.

Referring to the ongoing debate about whether too much cricket was being played these days, Dalmiya said that in the meeting of captains of Test-playing nations, the concensus was that anywhere between 90-95 ODIs in a year was reasonable.

Referring to allegations of match fixing and betting in Indian cricket, Dalmiya said that it was very unfortunate that former cricketers and even some top-flight journalists had been talking of such matters, while at the same time shying away from naming a single player. Such talk, he said, created a needless - and all pervasive - climate of suspicion, which the Indian team could do without.

Dalmiya was in Vishakapattinam to accept an honorary doctorate conferred on him by the Andhra Pradesh University.