The International Cricket Council (ICC) has addressed the controversy surrounding the pitch for the World Cup semifinal between India and New Zealand. The independent pitch consultant, Andy Atkinson, was reportedly consulted on the decision to change the playing surface. Initial reports suggested that a fresh pitch had been prepared for the match, but later it was decided to use a “used” deck to assist Indian spinners.
The ICC clarified that changing the pitch is not uncommon for an event of this length and has occurred multiple times already. The decision to change the pitch was made by the venue curator in collaboration with the host association. The ICC assured that Atkinson, their independent pitch consultant, was aware of the change and had no concerns about the pitch’s quality.
According to the ICC’s Playing Conditions for the World Cup, the host association is responsible for selecting and preparing the pitch, and there is no requirement for a knockout match to be played on a fresh pitch.
Australian captain Pat Cummins also downplayed the pitch controversy, stating that the ICC has an independent pitch curator who ensures fairness for both teams. Cummins expressed that he had not witnessed any issues with the pitches throughout the tournament.
In the first semifinal, India chose to bat first after winning the toss and had a strong start, reaching 150 for 1 in 20 overs. The winner of this match will face either Australia or South Africa in the title clash at Ahmedabad on Sunday.
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