Fresh controversy today broke out over theEden Gardens track after the BCCI appointed East Zone curator Ashish Bhowmickto prepare the pitch in place of veteran Prabir Mukherjee who is known to havedifferences with Indian captain M S Dhoni.
In a surprise development, the BCCI asked Bhowmick to oversee the preparationsof the track which will host the third Test between India and England,sidelining Mukherjee who has been in charge of the historic Eden pitch fordecades.
"He is going there as per BCCI's instruction. But I've no idea whether hehas replaced the local curator there (Prabir Mukherjee). I'm not aware of thedetails," TCA secretary Arindam Ganguly told PTI.
Mukherjee acknowledged that he may have to play second fiddle to Bhowmick whomhe described as his "boss".
"It's OK. At that time he will be my boss and I will obey what my bosssays. Because he is coming from the BCCI," he said when asked whether hewill be able to work with Bhowmick.
Mukherjee said he was not sidelined but the Board has sent Bhowmick to"help" him out for preparing the track for the third Test againstEngland beginning December 5.
"It's not that I've been removed or sidelined. We will work together toprepare the wicket. I'm more than happy to assist him," the 83-year-old,who is associated with Eden since 1985, said.
"(Ashish) Bhowmick is a very sincere boy, and I know him well. He has beenasked by the Board to help me out. It's not something that is happening for thefirst time. I don't understand what's the fuss about it. Even in the past, wehad gone to other centres to help the local man out."
On Dhoni's demand for a turner, he asked, "Is it practically possible ifsomebody asks me to prepare an Australian-type wicket here? Several factors(soil, weather conditions) depend on the constitution of wicket."
CAB joint-secretary Sujan Mukherjee, however, termed Bhowmick's visit as a"routine" inspection tour and maintained that the 83-year-oldMukherjee has not been replaced.
"It's a routine visit to assess the pitch and conditions which happensevery time before a match. Prabir Mukherjee remains the Eden curator,"Sujan Mukherjee said.
The BCCI's move to send Bhowmick to Kolkata ahead of the third Test has raisedmany eyebrows as, only on Sunday, Daljit Singh, who is the chairman of BCCI'sground and pitches committee, did a recce of the same Eden track.
Senior BCCI official and IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla refused to read too muchinto the matter and said the decision to send Bhowmick to Kolkata was taken bythe Board's ground and pitch committee.
"All the curators work independently. This is absolutely wrong (that Dhonihad a role). No decisions are taken on the advise of anyone. The grounds andpitch committee of the BCCI took the decision in this matter," Shuklasaid.
Outspoken and forthright, Mukherjee has in the past criticised Dhoni for hisdemands on pitches, and this time too the veteran reportedly had a differenceof opinion with the Indian skipper on the nature of track to be prepared forthe Eden Test.
In the second Test, Wankhede curator Sudhir Naik, offered a turner at Mumbaiwhich helped spinners from Day 1, but the move backfired as India suffered ahumiliating 10-wicket loss to England who levelled the series with the emphaticwin.
Even after being thrashed on a customised Wankhede track, Dhoni had insistedfor a similar rank turner for the Eden Test.
Both Dhoni and Eden curator, Mukherjee are known for their critical remarksagainst each other.
During England's last appearance here (for an ODI on October 25, 2011), Dhonihad termed Eden an "ugly wicket".
Incidentally, India has won the match to complete a 5-0 whitewash.