Pitch for Ranji Trophy final in Rajkot very poor: Bengal coach Arun Lal

Rajkot: Bengal coach Arun Lal on Monday rated the pitch for their Ranji Trophy final against Saurashtra as "very poor" and said the BCCI should probe how such a sub-standard surface was prepared for the big game.

Far too many balls kept low on the opening day, especially in the final session, as Saurashtra reached 206 for five at close of play.

"Very poor wicket. The board has to look into things like these. The ball is not coming up. This is not good for cricket. The ball is not getting off, it is dusting, reversing. Very poor," Lal, who played 16 Tests and 13 ODIs for India, said after the day's play.

The 64-year-old felt the curator did not do his job when asked if the final should have been held at a neutral venue. "No, net necessarily (on neutral venue). You have got neutral curators. The board should look into it. Send your curator 15 days before the game. Even the curator has not done a good job."

Asked if he would speak to BCCI boss Sourav Ganguly on the matter, Lal said: "That is not my job. They should look into it on their own."