Cricket Australia (CA) is playing down Indian media claims that protocols have been breached by officials drinking alcohol on the WACA pitch, ahead of the third Test between Australia and India.
Vision has been broadcast on Indian television of more than a dozen WACA officials standing or lying on the pitch last night.
Some of the group took the covers off the wicket and sat on the pitch drinking beer for several minutes before replacing the covers.
The ground staff were barefooted, but uncovering the pitch before play violates ICC guidelines.
Indian media claim the 'pitch party' violates the ICC's code of conduct, but a spokesman for the WACA says it is a tradition for the ground staff to toast the pitch.
He says the curator Cam Sutherland was there last night and does not believe the pitch has been affected.
A CA spokesman says the WACA has given a 100 per cent guarantee that the pitch will be good to go and the match will proceed as planned.
The umpires will inspect the pitch this morning.
Indian TV stations filmed the incident while preparing previews for Friday's crucial Test match.
India's BCCI has urged CA to investigate the issue with senior official Rajeev Shukla quoted by Indian media as saying: "It's a serious matter and the Australian cricket board should look into it.
"It is the responsibility of the host cricket board to maintain the wicket. It is their prime responsibility."
Tags: cricket, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia First posted January 13, 2012 08:42:53
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