ICC issues statement on Nassau pitch amid heavy criticism. India lodged an official complaint on the manner of the New York pitch.
The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium has already hosted two matches in the ongoing T20 World Cup, both of which were low-scoring. The surface is on the slower side, and the outfield is not suitable for players. The ball is having problems clearing the fence, which has sparked a lot of criticism.
The June 3 match between Sri Lanka and South Africa was the first to draw criticism. Sri Lanka batted first and scored only 77 runs, making it difficult for the Proteas to overcome that. Later in the competition, India and Ireland encountered similar challenges.
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Men in Blue filed a formal complaint over the undercooked pitch in New York.
However, ICC remains unfazed. In an official statement, the cricketing regulating body stated that not enough cricket has been played on the surface, which is causing the problem. The statement went on to say that world-class groundsmen are working relentlessly to find a solution that would result in better matches in the future.
“ICC acknowledges that the pitches utilized thus far at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium have not performed as consistently as we would all like. The world-class grounds staff has been working tirelessly since the end of yesterday’s game to rectify the situation and provide the best possible surfaces for the remaining matches,” the statement added.
On June 7, New York will host a match between Canada and Ireland. They will also host the Netherlands and South Africa before the blockbuster match between India and Pakistan on June 9. A large crowd is expected on the night, and the ICC is working hard to provide a high-quality contest. However, the signals do not appear positive at the time.
India skipper Rohit Sharma has also raised his doubts about the surface. The 37-year-old mentioned that he will only finalise the playing XI after viewing the match day pitch.
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