ODI World Cup 2023

‘Hamari marzi, hamara ground hai’ – Fans react as Indian Cricket Board discusses accusations of pitch change for ODI World Cup 2023 semi-finals

India are set to play New Zealand in the first semi-final of the ODI World Cup 2023

Published on

November 15, 2023

India and New Zealand will clash in the first semi-final in the 2023 ODI World Cup at the Wankhede stadium. It will be played on an old surface that has already hosted two matches in the competition.

ESPNcricinfo made everyone aware that Pitch 7, the middle section of the pitch block at Wankhede Stadium, was originally intended to host the semi-final. Pitch 7, a fresh surface, was not utilised during the World Cup’s league stage.

However, Pitch 6, which is a little off-center, will now host the game. It has previously played home to two games in the tournament. This included India’s 302 run triumph against Sri Lanka on November 2. The other game was South Africa’s 229 run victory versus England on October 21.

This alteration is a belated departure from the pre-World Cup pitch distribution plan. “6-8-6-8-7 was the planned rotation at Wankhede,” a source told ESPNcricinfo. Thus far, 6-8-6-8 has been employed.

The applicable “ground authority,” in this case the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), is “responsible for the selection and preparation of the pitch” prior to any particular match. This is under the apex cricket council’s Playing Conditions for the World Cup. Along with the local ground workers, the top cricket council also employs Andy Atkinson, an independent pitch expert.

Pitch made according to the preference of India?

According to The Daily Mail, Atkinson expressed frustration with pre-arranged plan alterations during the World Cup. He conjectured in an email that was leaked as to whether the surface for the final will be the same.

The email read, “”As a result of these actions, one must speculate if this will be the first ever CWC [cricket World Cup] 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. Or will it be selected or prepared without favouritism for either of the sides competing in the match in the usual manner, and unquestionably because it is the usual pitch for the occasion?’”

Fans react as Indian Cricket Board discusses accusations of pitch change for ODI World Cup 2023 semi-finals: –

BCCI responds to accusations of a 'pitch switch' at Wankhede.#INDvNZ #WorldCup2023 https://t.co/4xAibokBR9

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) November 15, 2023

There's nothing in the attachment where BCCI has hit back . The article highlights more on how actually BCCI is manipulating pitches for the last two matches in anticipation of India playing

— Sandeep Deshpande ???? (@SandeepD1965) November 15, 2023

"The ICC independent pitch consultant works with the host and venues on their proposed pitch allocations and this process is ongoing throughout an event of this length and nature," a spokesperson for the BCCI said as quoted by The Daily Mail.

— Nisarg Prajapati (@TechyNisarg) November 15, 2023

They are admitting that there are changes and used pitch will be used for match , not the fresh pitch.

— Zulfiqar Ali Langah (@Xulfiie) November 15, 2023

Pakistani crying ?? pic.twitter.com/axNGdrgqCQ

— Hemaram Saran (@saran_hemaram) November 15, 2023

Wankhede is governed by MCA not GCA… So the report falls falt there, GCA can only manage NM stadium Ahmedabad… Atkinson goofed up email report…

— Francis P j ?? (@FrancisPj11) November 15, 2023