Controversy is swirling ahead of tonight’s India v New Zealand Cricket World Cup semifinal in Mumbai, with suggestions the home team have arranged to use a pitch which may be more suited to their spin bowlers.
The United Kingdom’s Daily Mail is reporting that the ICC has not given permission for the switch, and that the governing body’s head grounds consultant Andy Atkinson has grown frustrated with the actions of India’s all powerful board which is behind the decision.
The Daily Mail said pitches at ICC events are prepared under the supervision of Atkinson, who agrees in advance with the home board which of the numbered strips on the square will be used for each game.
But that agreement has now allegedly been ignored as the tournament moves to the knockout phase, with the semi-final set to take place on a pitch that has already been used twice - potentially assisting India's world-class spinners as they seek to reach their first 50-over World Cup final since 2011.
The newspaper said the pitch for tonight’s game at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium was supposed to be No. 7, a fresh surface unused for any of the venue's four group matches.
“But a WhatsApp message circulated on Tuesday to a group of more than 50 BCCI and ICC officials confirmed that the first semi-final had been moved to pitch No. 6, which has already staged games between England and South Africa, plus India and Sri Lanka,” the Mail said.
“Atkinson is understood to have been told there is an unspecified problem with pitch No. 7 - an opinion he is thought not to share.”
There is huge pressure on India, undefeated at the tournament, to beat the Black Caps.
Four years ago in Manchester, New Zealand shocked India at the same stage, only to lose the final by the barest of margins to England thanks to a controversial countback.
Today's semifinal between India and New Zealand is scheduled to start at 9.30pm. The other semifinal between Australia and South Africa is scheduled for tomorrow.
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