Akash Chopra calls for sporting wickets in domestic cricket

Former opener Akash Chopra feels if the Indian cricket team is to do well in countries like England and Australia, the BCCI needs to ensure sporting wickets are prepared for the domestic circuit in the country.

Chopra, who currently leads defending Ranji champions Rajasthan, said mammoth scores in the current season are rather "unrealistic".

"The BCCI needs to understand that if we have good wickets we can produce good cricketers. If we want to do well in countries like Australia, England or New Zealand where the wickets are lively, we need good wickets at home," Chopra said.

Rejecting suggestions that Rajasthan, which has only three points from three outings, is almost out of the Ranji title race, Akash hoped that things would turn around.

"We played some good teams like Mumbai and Karnataka and now we are back on our home turf. That gives us confidence and if we manage to notch a couple of outright victories we would be back in reckoning," he said.

Chopra refused to comment on the power struggle in the Rajasthan Cricket Association and said his job was restricted to what happens on field.

"As cricketers we are little concerned about the infighting of the officials. It is the performance with bat ball inside the ground which matters," he said.