Cricket

The ICC T20 World Cup 2024, jointly hosted by the West Indies and the USA, witnessed a stark contrast in scoring patterns between the matches held in the two regions. While the West Indies leg produced high-scoring encounters, the USA leg was characterized by low-scoring affairs.The ICC's decision to host the tournament in the USA was driven by their desire to develop cricket in the country. However, the low-scoring matches in the USA raised concerns about the quality of the pitches and the overall experience for fans.In the group stages, only three teams managed to score over 200 runs, and all of those matches were played in the West Indies. In the USA leg, the highest score recorded was just 137, in a match played in New York.The drop-in pitches from Adelaide, Australia, used in the USA leg, proved to be difficult for batters to score freely. The uneven bounce made it challenging for them to settle and play their shots.Some teams were bundled out for less than 100 runs, but even those scores were chased down laboriously. The India-Pakistan match was another low-scoring affair, with India defending just 119 runs.The ICC's decision to not adequately test the pitches or the conditions before such a major tournament was a gamble that backfired. The pitches should have been prepared in a way that allowed for a balanced contest between bat and ball.Furthermore, some grounds in the USA, such as the one in Florida, were not equipped to withstand rain. The match between India and Canada was abandoned without a ball bowled due to poor drainage and lack of adequate facilities.The idea of developing cricket in the USA is commendable, but the ICC needs to ensure that basic amenities are in place to support the growth of the game. While cricket fans in the USA got to see their favorite stars, the quality of the cricket was a major disappointment.

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.