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Change of pitch in Pakistan-India Ahmedabad match declared a violation of ICC agreement
Asghar Ali Mubarak
The International Cricket Council says that the pitch has been changed many times before in the World Cup. Before the semi-final, the pitch was changed on the recommendation of the ground curator and the host nation.
This was known to the ICC’s pitch consultant. On the other hand, the British media says that the Indian board changed the pitch of the semi-final match at the Wankhede Stadium without the permission of the ICC.
The Indian board decided to use the pitch that was used twice in the World Cup once again. India chose a favorable pitch for their spinners, remember that pitch number 7 was to be used for the semi-final which was not used earlier.
Andy Atkinson, the ICC official who oversees the pitches and match schedule during the World Cup, has previously confirmed the pitch change for the semi-finals, but has refrained from giving reasons.
The email sent to the concerned officials said that the first match of the tournament, which was scheduled between England and New Zealand, went ahead as per the schedule, but the schedule of the three subsequent matches was changed without prior notice and explanation. According to the event manager,
the match between Pakistan and India was supposed to be played on pitch no. 7 in Ahmedabad, but it was played on pitch no. 5. Changing the pitch is a violation of the ICC agreement,
it is feared that the BCCI may do the same at the Ahmedabad Stadium for the final match. Andy warned in his email that the move would mean the 2023 Cricket World Cup final would be the first ICC match to have a pitch chosen specifically at the whim of the host board or The competing team will be drawn without giving favours. In this regard,
the BCCI officials said that these changes were made on the suggestions of the Gujarat Cricket Association, while the Gujarat Cricket Association says that they did so on the instructions of the BCCI, which they received from the Indian team management.