BCCI hits back at reports after being accused of Wankhede 'pitch switch'

The stakes will be at an all-time high when India and New Zealand lock horns in the ODI World Cup 2023 semi-finals on Wednesday, November 15 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

However, before the vital clash, a huge allegation has taken the cricket fraternity by storm. Fingers are being pointed at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after news broke out about the initially designated semi-final pitch being changed before the game.

"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. 

The pitches at ICC events are prepared under the supervision of the governing body's consultant, Andy Atkinson. He comes to an agreement with the home board on which of the numbered pitches on the ground will be used for each game. However, as per a report from Mail Sport, the pitch on which the semi-final will be played is not the one that was picked initially.

Pitch No. 7 was supposed to be used for the all-important clash. It was a fresh pitch. However, at the last instance, it has been decided that pitch No. 6, which has already hosted two matches in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023, will be used. Pitch No. 6 hosted the England versus South Africa game and the one between India and Sri Lanka.

Atkinson has apparently been told that there is some unspecified problem with pitch No. 7 - an opinion he is thought not to share. There have also been concerns regarding the pitch that will host the finals at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday, November 19. Atkinson recommended that the summit clash be played on pitch No. 5, which has only been used once in the tournament. However, he learned last week that pitch No. 6, which has been used twice, could be picked at the last minute.

When Atkinson enquired about who approved the changes, BCCI blamed it on the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), while the GCA said that they had instructions from India's cricket governing body, with the requests coming directly from the Indian team management.

"As a result of these actions, one must speculate if this will be the first ever ICC 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?' Atkinson warned in an email.