ICC Issues Clarification on Pitch Controversy: 'The Independent Pitch Consultant Was Apprised of the Change'

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally opened up on the controversy around the pitch swapping at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai for the ODI World Cup 2023. The English and Australian media accused the Indian cricket board of changing the pitch, from a fresh strip to a used one, going against the agreement made between the ICC independent pitch consultant and the BCCI.

However, the governing body has stated that the change was made on a ‘recommendation’ made by the venue curator and the ICC’s consultant, Andy Atkinson, was ‘apprised of the change’.

IND vs NZ ICC World Cup 2023 Semi-final Live Updates

“Changes to planned pitch rotations are common towards the end of an event of this length, and has already happened a couple of times. This change was made on the recommendation of the venue curator in conjunction with our host. The ICC independent pitch consultant was apprised of the change and has no reason to believe the pitch won’t play well,” an ICC spokesperson said on Wednesday.

What do the ICC guidelines say?

As per the ICC’s Playing Conditions for the World Cup, the ground authority is ‘responsible for the selection and preparation of the pitch’ before any game. [In this case, it was the Mumbai Cricket Association. The ICC also have an independent pitch consultant who works alongside local groundstaff.

What do Western Media report?

As reported by the Daily Mail, Atkinson was ‘frustrated’ by changes to pre-agreed plans throughout the World Cup, speculating, in a leaked email, whether the pitch for the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday ‘will be the first ever ICC CWC 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.’

Follow all the action from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 including the World Cup schedule, World Cup 2023 results, and ICC Cricket World Cup points table. Players are vying to top the World Cup 2023 Most Runs and World Cup 2023 Most Wickets charts. 

We’ve not faced any pitch issue so far: Cummins

The raging pitch controversy may have taken the centre stage ahead of the World Cup semi-finals but Australia skipper Pat Cummins on Wednesday said they have ‘faith’ in ICC and his team has not faced any issue so far in the ongoing tournament.

‘Obviously, ICC have an independent pitch curator who manages that so I’m sure they are all over making sure it’s fair for both teams,” Cummins said ahead of their semi-final against South Africa at Eden Gardens.

“So far this tournament that we’ve played on, I’ve not seen any issue,” he added.