The International Cricket Council (ICC) finally released the pitch ratings for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies when they uploaded a detailed spreadsheet on their official website on August 20.
The global body didn’t push out a media release for the ratings which were found under the “pitch ratings” navigation tab on their website and found no mention on social media.
From ‘poor’ to ‘very good’, the ICC has shared pitch ratings in the past but made no noise regarding the release which came 52 days after the title clash between India and South Africa on June 29.
The only word from the global body regarding the pitches was on June 6, a day after India played Ireland in a low-scoring game.
“The pitches used so far at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium have not played as consistently as we would have all wanted. The world-class grounds team have been working hard since the conclusion of yesterday’s game to remedy the situation and deliver the best possible surfaces for the remaining matches,” read an ICC statement
That game vs Ireland raised a lot of concerns regarding the outfield and pitch, and former cricketers termed the conditions “bordering on dangerous”. The outfield looked heavy, something which was highlighted by the India camp too, but the ICC has found it “satisfactory” in their ratings.
Pitches for only two fixtures in New York – India vs Ireland and Sri Lanka vs South Africa – have received “unsatisfactory” ratings while all other games at the venue have received a “satisfactory” rating.
Even the outfield ratings have dramatically improved from “satisfactory” to “very good” for the last two matches – South Africa vs Bangladesh and Pakistan vs Canada – at the venue. These games were played on days after India vs Pakistan, the outfield for which was rated “satisfactory”.
The match referees have clearly gone soft as the majority of the games at the modular venue got a “satisfactory” rating and the outfield too left a good last impression on them. Everyone – from former cricketers to current coaches – criticised the conditions in New York but the global body was satisfied.
“These ratings are a joke. Especially the very good rating of the New York outfield. Just a comparison that the Ahmedabad final outfield got a very good rating from the ICC. They mean to say that the quality of both Ahmedabad and New York outfields was the same. It’s very funny,” says a source tracking developments.
Since the USA leg of the T20 World Cup, many ICC members have questioned the delivery of the multi-nation event and it was decided at the recent Board meeting that there will be a thorough review which will be overseen by directors Roger Twose, Lawson Naidoo and Imran Khwaja. Cautious attempts are currently underway to control the narrative as far as the 2024 T20 World Cup is concerned and the quiet upload of the pitch and outfield ratings is an example of that.
“Lot of senior ICC officials are on their way out, lot of changes on the cards. So everyone, while leaving, wants to control the narrative and minimise the potential damage,” adds the source.
Comments
0 comment