India vs New Zealand WC semifinal: Pitch controversy erupts in Mumbai

A controversy has erupted over the Wankhede Stadium pitch as India get ready to face New Zealand in the ICC World Cup 2023 semifinal today (November 15) in Mumbai.

According to a report in Daily Mail, the Indian team management asked for a change in the pitch for the semifinals against the Kiwis.

The report states that the India versus New Zealand World Cup semifinal will be played on a used pitch, which had staged two league matches of the tournament.

A fresh pitch (Pitch No. 7) was slated to be used for the India-New Zealand semifinal in Mumbai but it has now changed to Pitch No. 6, said another report.

“The semifinal was initially supposed to be played on Pitch 7, the central strip of the Wankhede Stadium's pitch block. Pitch 7 is a fresh surface that was not used in the league stage of the World Cup. But a decision was made to shift the game to Pitch 6, which is slightly off-centre and has already hosted two matches in the tournament: South Africa's 229-run win over England on October 21, and India's 302-run victory over Sri Lanka on November 2,” a report on ESPNCricinfo said.

A report in Indian Express said the Indian team management had asked for a slowish pitch at the Wankhede Stadium.

The report claimed that a Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) official confirmed that a message was conveyed to prepare a slow track before the home team reached Mumbai.

“It won’t be a turner but the team had asked for a slow pitch. It was the main reason we shaved off the grass,” a source was quoted as saying in the report.

ICC’s pitch consultant “frustrated”

Andy Atkinson, the International Cricket Council’s pitch consultant, who works with the local groundstaff, was “frustrated” over the changing of pitches throughout the World Cup 2023, Daily Mail report claimed.

It said that Atkinson felt, in a lead email, that the pitch could be changed for the World Cup 2023 final in Ahmedabad on Sunday, November 19.

“As a result of these actions, one must speculate if this will be the first ever (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,” Atkinson’s email warned, the report said.

“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.

What ICC World Cup 2023 Playing Conditions say on pitch?

On the selection and preparation for an ICC World Cup 2023 match, ICC Playing Conditions say it is the responsibility of the “Ground Authority” to prepare the 22-yard strip. The Ground Authority for the India vs New Zealand semifinal is the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA).

“Before the match, the Ground Authority shall be responsible for the selection and preparation of the pitch. During the match, the umpires shall control its use and maintenance,” ICC’s Playing Conditions state.