Indian gamers have fun after successful the 2023 World Cup semi-final towards New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15, 2023. Before the match began, controversy had erupted after stories emerged that the Indian crew administration sought a “slow pitch” for the sport.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The legendary Sunil Gavaskar on Wednesday (November 15) dismissed conspiracy theories across the pitch for the World Cup semifinal between India and New Zealand, asking the “morons” to close up and stop taking potshots at the hosts.
India reached the ultimate with a 70-run win over New Zealand in Mumbai.
Hours earlier than India’s extremely anticipated semi-final at the Wankhede, stories emerged that the Indian cricket crew administration has sought a “slow pitch” for the sport.
According to a report, a recent pitch was initially deliberate for the primary semifinal however later an “used” floor was used to help the house crew’s spinners, resulting in pitch alteration.
Interestingly, it was pacer Mohammed Shami who claimed a spectacular seven-wicket haul, as India dismissed New Zealand for 327 in 48.1 overs to succeed in their first World Cup closing in 12 years.
“All those morons who have been saying about pitch change, I hope they just shut up, stop taking potshots at India. Stop talking about pitch change. It was for both teams,” Gavaskar advised the broadcasters after the match.
The report additionally claimed that if India make the ultimate in Ahmedabad, a gradual pitch is anticipated at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera.
“For God’s sake the second semi-final hasn’t been played and they are talking about changing pitch in Ahmedabad,” Gavaskar mentioned.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) additionally later clarified that the unbiased pitch advisor Andy Atkinson was taken into confidence earlier than the change of floor.
“Changes to planned pitch rotations are common towards the end of an event of this length, and have already happened a couple of times.
“This change was made on the advice of the venue curator along side our host,” the ICC said in a statement.
The ICC said Atkinson, its independent pitch consultant, was aware of the change.
“The ICC unbiased pitch advisor was apprised of the change and has no motive to imagine the pitch will not play properly,” said the ICC.
As per the ICC’s ‘playing conditions’ for the World Cup, the host association is “accountable for the choice and preparation of the pitch” and there is no requirement that a knockout match must be played on fresh pitches.
Australian captain Pat Cummins also did not read too much into the pitch episode.
However, former England skipper Michael Vaughan had said that a fresh pitch should be used for the semi-final.
“A World Cup semi ought to be performed on a recent pitch .. It’s so simple as that,” Vaughan had posted on X, previously Twitter.
