BCCI Raises Concerns Over New York Pitch Ahead of India-Pakistan Clash

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has raised concerns with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the pitch conditions at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York ahead of India's highly anticipated match against Pakistan on June 9.

The issue arose after Indian captain Rohit Sharma suffered a blow to his thumb during a practice session. Sharma had also experienced discomfort in his arm during India's match against Ireland, forcing him to retire hurt. Notably, Sharma was not the only player affected by the unpredictable bounce of the pitch. Star batter Virat Kohli also faced difficulties while batting in the nets.

The pitch has been a major talking point in the tournament, with teams struggling to score runs consistently. In the six innings played at the stadium so far, only two teams have managed to cross the 100-run mark. Former players have expressed concerns that the low-scoring conditions may hinder the promotion of cricket in the American market.

The four drop-in pitches at the venue, installed under the supervision of Adelaide Oval groundsman Damian Hough, have yet to settle down properly. The uneven bounce has raised safety concerns for batters, particularly after Sharma's injury.

"I don't know what to expect from the pitch to be honest. We will prepare as if the conditions are going to be like this (for Pakistan game). This is going to be a kind of game where all XI of us will need to contribute," Sharma said after the Ireland match.

The ICC has acknowledged the concerns and released a statement addressing the issue. "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 statement read.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan team is yet to acclimatize to the conditions at Nassau Stadium. They arrived in New York after their surprising defeat to tournament debutants USA and took the next day off.

Tags: #Cricket, #T20WorldCup, #India, #Pakistan, #PitchConcerns