The International Cricket Council (ICC) has responded to allegations leveled against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for insisting a last-minute change in pitch ahead of IND vs NZ Cricket World Cup semi-final at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
According to a Daily Mail report, The pitch for semi-final 1 game at the Wankhede Stadium was supposed to be played on a fresh surface. However, the decision was later changed to a used surface.
Also Read: BCCI accused of meddling with pitches at Narendra Modi Stadium ahead of WC Final
But now, the ICC has opened up about the controversy and cleared that changes to planned pitch are not uncommon and it was made on the recommendation of the venue curator.
“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”, an ICC spokesperson said in a statement.
Earlier, the report also claimed that ICC pitch consultant, Andy Atkinson wrote an e-mail to the governing body which read: “As a result of these actions, one must speculate if this will be the first ever (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. 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?”
Talking about the ongoing game, Team India have made a positive start after opting to bat first. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma scored a 29-ball 47 to give India a flying start before getting dismissed.
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