The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) has increased the security situations around the pitch of the Green Park stadium in Kanpur after the Pune pitch fiasco. UPCA will host the third and the final ODI between India and New Zealand, on Sunday.

UPCA acting secretary Yudhvir Singh said, “We have to be more careful after the incident in Pune. The police officials have been told that only individuals with valid accreditation can enter the stadium. This practice was already in place but we are extra-cautious now. The groundsmen too have been instructed that they don’t need to discuss the nature of the pitch with anyone. What’s the need for that anyway.”

The extra watchfulness in Kanpur comes after the suspension of Pune curator Pandurang Salgaoncar, who accused of agreeing to tamper the pitch ahead of the second ODI in Pune.

It has been learned that Shiv Kumar, the tubewell operator who rose to become the curator at Green Park, has been helping in pitch preparation unofficially. The Green Park will host its first ever ODI under lights on Sunday.