The Indian team management was displeased over the pitch at Wankhede cricket Stadium that was prepared for the fifth and final one-dayer of the series between India and South Africa. The hosts who opted to bat first made 434 runs and went on beat India by 214 runs to clinch the series.

Team director Ravi Shastri had a verbal spat with the curator Sudhir Naik. He taunted the curator over the nature of wicket that was prepared for Sunday's match, according to sources.

The flat track prepared by the Mumbai Cricket Association Curators was not helping both the spinners and the fast bowlers of the Indian camp who bowled first. The team management wanted the pitch to give some help to the spinners, the home team's trump card, but the absolutely flat deck prepared for the game, with the series hanging in balance 2-2, upset their calculations, according to PTI.

Also read: South Africa thrash India in decider to clinch series



"They wanted the track to be a bit loose, but the suggestion was rejected and a 350-run track was asked to be prepared," an MCA source said, pleading anonymity.

An agitated Naik, who had asked Shastri not question to his ability to prepare wickets, took up the issue with MCA officials including vice-president Dilip Vengsarkar.



Skipper not happy

Skipper MS Dhoni said the Wankhede wicket was "too true" to offer any assistance to their bowlers.

"Our fast bowlers could not get much from the pitch with their bouncers, neither the spinners were getting the turn. We know the Wankhede wicket. Nothing went right for our bowlers," Dhoni was quoted as saying by PTI.



