Curator Prabir Mukherjee, architect of the green top at Eden Gardens where South Africa thrashed the hosts by 10-wickets, admitted he was hurt with Sourav Ganguly's exclusion from Team India but denied the pitch had anything to do with his wounded sentiments.
''Of course Sourav has been treated shabbily," said Mukherjee. "For someone who has given so much in the last five years, it was a scam to chuck him out of the squad this way. Performance soars and dips but we have to respect our heroes and in Sourav's case, this was not done.''
''But I was apalled to read in the media that I had altercations with (coach) Greg Chappell. I did not have any spat with him and why should I argue?'' Mukherjee, who is in New Delhi to prepare wicket for the second Test between India and Sri Lanka, said.
After India was skittled out for 188 in the fourth match of the series, South Africa went on to reach the victory target without losing any wicket. Subsequently, media reports claimed Mukherjee had a war of words with Chappell over mowing of the grass before the match.
''I always listen to my captain and the coach but of course, none can dictate me. I make pitch -- it's not my profession but my passion.
"I even told Sourav Ganguly once that I would never dare teach you how to play cricket. At the same time, you should not try to teach me how to make wicket. I don't work under any diktat from anyone.
''So far I have made wickets for eight Tests and I feel satisfied that seven of them had results,'' he added.
Asked whether it was not just to avail home advantage in the match, Mukherjee said, ''Sorry to say but people have misconceptions about home advantage. People ask me to prepare spinner's wicket, which is effectively under-prepared pitch and that's a scam.
I want good pitch which would have something to offer over the full five days to the batsmen, pacers and the spinners as well. Home advantage means your acquaintance with the soil condition and the ambience.
''People raised brouhaha over the Eden wicket in the one dayer against South Africa but nobody said anything about how we negated the dew factor there. I had instructed my boys to wipe the field with rolled jute for the last three days and it worked wonder.
''People made me villain of the piece for the wicket which they feel was unplayable. But on the same wicket Graeme Smith went on to score a breezy ton and they won the match by 10 wickets,'' he rued.
He was also miffed with the wicket he had handed over to the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) in September.
''I've no hesitation to say that they have not maintained the pitch. The main strip has been used for four-five matches in recent past and that leaves it in a bad shape. The grss is gone and now Chappell and Dravid asked me to make a fast, even bounce wicket. I can't grow grass overnight but I'll try my best,'' he said.
''Maintaining wicket is much more important than making wicket and the sooner we realise it, the better,'' he said.
