ICC issues statement on Nassau pitch amid heavy criticism

The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium has hosted two matches so far in the ongoing T20 World Cup and interestingly, both turned out to be a low-scoring affair. The surface is on the slower side and the outfield is not fit for the players. The ball is having trouble crossing the fence and that has drawn a lot of criticism. 

The match between Sri Lanka and South Africa on June 3 drew criticism first. Batting first, Sri Lanka made just 77 runs and the Proteas faced difficulty in toppling that. Later in the tournament, India and Ireland too faced similar problems. As per reports, Men in Blue also filed an official complaint about the undercooked pitch in New York.

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However, ICC is not fazed. In an official statement, the cricketing governing body mentioned that not a lot of cricket has been played on the surface and that is creating the problem. The statement further read that the world-class groundsmen are working tirelessly to find a solution in order to produce better matches in the future.

“ICC recognises that the pitches used so far at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium have not played as consistently as we would have all wanted. The world-class grounds team have been working hard since the conclusion of yesterday’s game to remedy the situation and deliver the best possible surfaces for the remaining matches,” the statement read.

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New York will also host the match between Canada and Ireland on June 7. They will also host Netherlands versus South Africa before the big game between India and Pakistan on June 9. A lot of fans are expected to turn up on the night and ICC is trying its best to produce a better-quality match. However, the signs are not looking good at the moment.

India skipper Rohit Sharma has also raised his doubts about the surface. The 37-year-old mentioned that he will only finalise the playing XI after viewing the match day pitch.