The International Cricket Council has issued a new statement acknowledging that the pitch at Nassau County Stadium in New York does not meet the required standards for the T20 World Cup 2024. The statement indicates that the pitch’s quality falls below the expected level for the tournament. This admission by the ICC underscores the importance of ensuring that all playing surfaces meet the necessary criteria to maintain the integrity and competitiveness of the prestigious event.
The Nature of New York Pitch:
The Nassau County pitch is unique as it consists of drop-in surfaces. These surfaces, originating from Adelaide, were transported to Florida before being installed in New York for the T20 World Cup. Commentator Ravi Shastri highlighted that drop-in pitches need time to adjust, with curators assuring gradual enhancements. Despite this, the current pitch condition has been labeled as challenging, impacting the gameplay significantly during the matches.
Criticism of New York’s Pitch:
The T20 World Cup matches between India vs Ireland and Sri Lanka vs South Africa at Nassau County Stadium became a bowler-friendly affair. Fast bowlers delivered balls that rose sharply from short to a good length, posing challenges for the batsmen. South Africa‘s Anrich Nortje and India‘s pace bowlers capitalized on the conditions, restricting the batters from scoring freely as they found it tough to accumulate runs.
During the India vs Ireland match, the perilous pitch conditions were evident as Indian captain Rohit Sharma had to exit the field due to a shoulder injury. This incident raised alarms among fans and experts, criticizing the ICC for the unprepared pitch. Adding to the tension, Rishabh Pant hurt his elbow in the 11th over, caused by a delivery from Josh Little. Despite the injury, Pant bravely continued his innings, hitting a match-winning six. Updates on their injuries are awaited, sparking worries about player safety on this pitch.
ICC’s Statement:
Following significant backlash from fans and experts, the ICC announced on Thursday, June 6, that efforts are underway to address the concerns and improve the pitch conditions before the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match scheduled for Sunday, June 9. The ICC aims to rectify the issues raised and ensure a better playing surface for the upcoming crucial fixture.
After facing a lot of criticism regarding the pitch, ICC stated, “T20 Inc and the ICC recognise that the pitches used so far at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium have not played as consistently as we would have all wanted. The world-class grounds team have been working hard since the conclusion of yesterday’s game to remedy the situation and deliver the best possible surfaces for the remaining matches.” Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and Instagram
