Cricket World Cup: India sparks massive controversy
Cricket World Cup hosts India have sensationally been accused of switching the pitch to suit them for their semi-final against New Zealand.
India finished top on the log and will take on fourth-placed New Zealand in the last four at the Cricket World Cup, while South Africa, who ended the group stages in second place, will face third-placed Australia.
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The India v New Zealand clash will take place on Wednesday, 15 November at 10:30 (SA time), and on the eve of the match, a massive controversy has erupted.
According to a Daily Mail exclusive, it is claimed the Indian board have switched the pitch for the semi-final clash, opting to play on a surface that has been used twice already at the tournament, and which will presumably suit their spinners.
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CRICKET WORLD CUP CONTROVERSY
Pitches at ICC events are prepared under the supervision of the governing body’s consultant, Andy Atkinson, and there is supposed to be a pre-agreement over which pitch is used. However, it’s alleged that India have effectively ignored this.
“The pitch for Wednesday’s game at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium was supposed to be No 7, an entirely fresh surface unused for any of the venue’s four group matches,” the report read.
“But a WhatsApp message circulated on Tuesday to a group of more than 50 BCCI and ICC officials confirmed that the first semi-final had been moved to pitch No 6, which has already staged games between England and South Africa, plus India and Sri Lanka.
“Atkinson is understood to have been told there is an unspecified problem with pitch No 7 – an opinion he is thought not to share. It follows concerns that plans for the final at Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, where India or New Zealand will meet Australia or South Africa, who play in Kolkata on Thursday, may also be changed unilaterally.”
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TOURNAMENT AT ITS BUSINESS END
The South Africa v Australia clash is scheduled for Thursday, 16 November, also at 10:30.
The final will take place on Sunday, 19 November at 10:30 (SA time).
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