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Pitch Controversy: ICC Pitch Consultant Raises Concerns Over Ahmedabad Track 

image-lp0p1p95Ahmedabad pitch under scanner (Twitter)

After a used-up surface in play for the India-New Zealand ICC World Cup 2023 semifinal created much chaos in cricketing circles, ICC pitch consultant Andy Atkinson has now raised fresh concerns over the preparations of the track for the tournament finale in Ahmedabad on Sunday (November 19). 

Atkinson has raised a question whether the surface will be prepared "without favouritism" for India after Men In Blue cemented their place in the summit clash with a comprehensive 70-run victory over the BlackCaps in Mumbai on Wednesday (November 15). 

According to a Daily Mail report, Atkinson had flown to Ahmedabad on last Friday to check with the preparations of the playing square and felt "unsatisfied" over the pitch changes made by the home-grown curators, with accusations that the tweaks were made to favour Team India.

Even though Rohit Sharma's men have hardly needed pitch conditions to favour them in a mighty juggernaut that has now stretched to ten consecutive wins in the competition, the latest report from Indian Express suggested on Tuesday that the track for the semifinal had been changed on India's wishes. 

ICC Pitch Consultant Raises Question On Ahmedabad Surface 

"Indian team management asked BCCI curators to shave off most of the grass on the Wankhede Stadium playing surface for their semifinal clash against New Zealand," the Indian Express reported. 

In accordance with his role under the ICC supervision, Atkinson agrees well in advance with the number of strips provided by the home board and state associations on a playing square for matches during the ICC tournaments. 

'Daily Mail' accused, however, that without Atkinson's approval, Ahmedabad has already played host to "three of the four group games on different surfaces from those on the schedule", something the ICC pitch consultant fears could be repeated for the finale. 

Atkinson reportedly recommends the final to be played on pitch No.5, which has been used just once, instead of pitch No.6 which has been used twice and could favour the Indian spinners. 

"As a result of these actions, one must speculate if this will be the first ever ICC CWC (cricket 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," wrote Atkinson in an e-mail which Indian Express revealed. 

"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?" he added.