ODI World Cup 2023: Pitch controversy continues to hover around mega final

India and Australia are set to cross swords once again in the ODI World Cup 2023 as they face each other in the finals on Sunday, November 19 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Ahead of India's semi-final clash against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, a huge controversy broke out as there were severe allegations that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had changed the pitch that was originally assigned for the match. Instead of a fresh pitch, the match was played on a used one, allegedly to help the Indian spinners. However, the pitch was as good as any in the tournament as a whopping 724 runs were scored.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) agreed that the pitch was changed but they also confirmed that it was done only after receiving approval from their pitch consultant, Andy Atkinson. ICC also mentioned that no rule states that knockout matches should be held on fresh pitches and last-minute pitch changes aren't unusual in a long tournament like the World Cup.

However, the controversy has resurfaced as Atkinson was not present when the pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium was being prepared 48 hours before the summit clash. As per reports, the New Zealander arrived in Ahmedabad on Friday afternoon and will join the preparations on Saturday.

"Andy hasn't gone back home. He came with the ICC delegation this afternoon and hence didn't come to the ground. He will be available tomorrow to check on the preparation of the track," an ICC source has reportedly confirmed.

The curator should make the pitch and players play on it: Ian Chappell

Former Australian captain Ian Chappel said that the curators should be allowed to do their job, which is to provide a good surface for the final, and the players should do their job of playing on it. The legendary former cricketer demanded conspiracy theorists to stay away.

"I think the same as I've always thought; that the curator should make the pitch and the players play on it and it should be up to no one else other than the curator, the local curator," Chappell told Wide World of Sports.

"I've always said about every pitch — don't worry about World Cups, anything else — the curator makes the pitch, and everybody else stays out of it," he added.

Also Check: Most Wickets in ODI World Cup 2023