As concerns grow over substandard pitches at New York’s Nassau County International Cricket Stadium for the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024, discussions have emerged over possible relocation of matches from the venue.
The untested playing fields in New York have faced heavy criticism from fans and cricket experts for excessively favoring players after Sri Lanka collapsed for 77 against South Africa and India bundled out Ireland for 96 in their respective matches. in the current T20 World Cup 2024. .
India are said to have privately expressed their displeasure in front of the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the unpredictable bounce and two-pace nature of the strips for their T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket. Stadium.
ICC reviews data amid criticism of pitch, but New York matches remain unchanged at ICC T20 World Cup 2024
However, despite heavy criticism, there are no immediate plans to move the remaining matches of the 2024 T20 World Cup from New York’s Nassau County International Cricket Stadium to other venues.
With the much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash scheduled for Sunday, June 8 at Eisenhower Park, where a crowd of 32,000 is expected, concerns have grown over the safety of the players.
During the clash between India and Ireland, Indian captain Rohit Sharma received a blow to his right bicep, while goalkeeper Rishabh Pant received a blow to his elbow during the game. In the same match, Ireland’s Harry Tector also received a knock on the gloves and was seen shaking his fingers in pain in New York.
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly reviewing data from previous games affected by pitch conditions, but officials have confirmed there is no possibility of moving 2024 T20 World Cup matches from New York. to venues in Florida or Texas, both with strips of natural grass. The courts in New York are non-accessible surfaces.
“An unused field has been designated for the clash between India and Pakistan”
However, one unused pitch was retained for the India-Pakistan encounter, with the possibility of adjustments based on the performance of other pitches ahead of the ongoing high-octane T20 World Cup 2024 match on Sunday at the Nassau County International Cricket. Stadium.
A BBC report says: “India has privately expressed displeasure with the unpredictable bounce and two-pace nature of the strips amid concerns over the safety of its batsmen. The ICC is believed to be analyzing data from previously abandoned games to establish how to react should action be necessary.
However, ICC officials have maintained that there are no contingency plans to move any of the games from New York to venues in Florida or Texas, both of which have swaths of natural grass. It is understood that an unused pitch has been designated for the India-Pakistan clash, although there is flexibility to modify that decision depending on how other pitches are played ahead of that match.”
Additionally, fears have been raised regarding the six no-access courts installed at the practice facility at nearby Cantiague Park. Reports suggest that the South African batsmen opted to submit to knockdowns rather than face their own bowlers or home net bowlers due to concerns over possible injuries.