Mumbai – In the lead-up to the highly anticipated World Cup semi-final clash between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium, startling reports have emerged, suggesting that the hosts altered the pitch without proper authorization from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
India has maintained an impeccable record throughout the tournament, remaining undefeated since its commencement on Oct 5. Across nine league matches, the team exhibited dominance, securing resounding victories, notably against Sri Lanka, England, and Australia.
According to a detailed report by the Daily Mail on Tuesday, the originally assigned pitch for the first semi-final at Wankhede Stadium was meant to be the pristine surface of pitch seven, previously unused in the tournament. However, the report alleges that the pitch has been substituted with pitch six, a strip that has already witnessed two matches (England vs South Africa and India vs Sri Lanka).
The report implicates Andy Atkinson, the ICC’s pitch consultant tasked with ensuring fair playing surfaces at global tournaments. It claims that Atkinson was informed about an unspecified issue with pitch seven, leading to the last-minute switch.
Furthermore, a circulated WhatsApp message on Tuesday, reportedly confirming the pitch switch, raised concerns. The message purportedly reached over 50 BCCI and ICC officials, adding a layer of controversy to the unfolding situation.
The report also voiced apprehensions about potential alterations to the pitch for the final at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (Nov 19). This final could feature India or New Zealand against the victor of the Australia or South Africa match in Kolkata on Thursday.
Details in the report highlight that the opening game between England and New Zealand adhered to the agreed-upon pitch, but subsequent matches deviated from the schedule. Atkinson, in an email to his superiors, expressed dismay over the pitch changes happening “without proper notice or forewarning” and raised questions about the impartiality of the final’s pitch selection.
The email, published by the outlet, speculated on whether this would be the first ICC World Cup final with a pitch specifically chosen at the request of team management or the home nation board hierarchy. Atkinson questioned whether it would be selected without favoritism, following the customary procedure for such occasions.
This controversy revives memories of discussions around the possibility of an “India-friendly” pitch during the T20 World Cup semi-final against West Indies at Wankhede Stadium in 2016, although it did not escalate into a major concern, particularly after India’s loss in that match.
