Controversy has erupted in the cricketing world after it was reported that the pitch for the World Cup 2023 semi-final between India and New Zealand was switched from a fresh one to a used surface. The first semi-final of the cricket World Cup is being played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, the semi-final was supposed to take place on Pitch 7 which is the central surface of the stadium but the match is taking place on Pitch 6. While Pitch 7 was a fresh surface, Pitch 6 has hosted two group matches.
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As per the ICC’s Playing Conditions for the World Cup, the responsibility to select and prepare the pitch for a match lies with the relevant ‘ground authority’ who in this case is the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). The monitoring of pitches for ICC is done by independent pitch consultant Andy Atkinson.
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Meanwhile, it has also been reported that Team India management asked BCCI curators to prepare a slow pitch at the Wankhede for the semi-final after which most of the grass was shaved off from the playing surface.
“It won’t be a turner but the team had asked for a slow pitch. It was the main reason we shaved off the grass,” an MCA source informed the Indian Express.
The report however didn’t mention if the management had requested a used pitch.
India captain Rohit Sharma admitted at the toss during the semi-final that it was indeed a slow pitch over which the match will be played.
“This looks like a good pitch but looks like on the slower side,” Rohit said after India opted to bat.
We must remember that ICC rules don’t ask for fresh pitches for knockout matches. The only requirement as per ICC’s Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process is: “It is expected that venues that are allocated the responsibility of hosting a match will present the best possible pitch and outfield conditions for that match.”
While the semi-finals of the 2019 ODI World Cup were played on fresh pitches, the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-finals were played on used pitches.
Meanwhile, England newspaper The Daily Mail has reported that ICC’s pitch consultant Andy Atkinson is not happy with the changes. Apart from the reported switch of pitches for the semi-final, the India-Pakistan group stage fixture in Ahmedabad took place on Pitch 5 when it was supposed to take place on No 7, the newspaper said.
Atkinson has also reportedly raised concerns over what pitch will be used for the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium where India or New Zealand will play against South Africa or Australia.
“As a result of these actions, one must speculate if this will be the first ever ICC CWC (Cricket World Cup) final to have a pitch which has been specifically chosen and prepared to their stipulation at the request of the team management and/or the hierarchy of the home nation board,” Atkinson said in an e-mail that has been leaked by The Daily Mail.
“Or will it be selected or prepared without favouritism for either of the sides competing in the match in the usual manner, and unquestionably because it is the usual pitch for the occasion?”
Meanwhile, an ICC spokesperson has said that such changes are nothing extraordinary and the global body has “no reason to believe the pitch won’t play well”.
“Changes to planned pitch rotations are common towards the end of an event of this length, and has already happened a couple of times. This change was made on the recommendation of the venue curator in conjunction with our host. The ICC independent pitch consultant was apprised of the change and has no reason to believe the pitch won’t play well,” the ICC spokesperson said.
from Firstpost Sports Latest News https://ift.tt/wvgWKnN
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