The International Cricket Council (ICC) has raised concerns over the pitch at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, labeling it as unfit and dangerous. This comes amid the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, where the pitch has already hosted two problematic low-scoring games.
In the first match at the venue, South Africa bowled out Sri Lanka for a mere 77 runs and struggled for over 16 overs to chase down the target. In the second game, India restricted Ireland to just 96 runs in 16 overs, and although India chased down the total in under 13 overs, their batters faced significant difficulties. Notably, Indian players Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant suffered injuries while batting, with Sharma having to retire hurt.
These issues have led to severe criticism from former players and raised alarms ahead of the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash scheduled for later this week. The ICC, acknowledging the problematic nature of the pitch, released a statement on Thursday, June 6th, addressing the concerns.
“T20 Inc and the ICC recognize 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 ICC stated. “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 surface for the remaining matches.”
The venue is slated to host a total of eight matches in the tournament. The next game at the stadium will feature Ireland against Canada on June 7th. As the ICC and the ground team strive to improve the pitch conditions, there remains speculation about whether the India vs Pakistan match might be relocated to ensure player safety and a fair contest.
