Intriguingly, both of the T20 World Cup matches that have taken place at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium so far have resulted in low scores. The guys shouldn’t be playing in the outfield because of the slower surface. There’s been a lot of criticism since the ball is struggling to get over the rail.
Critics were first drawn to the June 3 encounter between South Africa and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka scored a mere 77 runs when they batted first, and the Proteas had a hard time overpowering them. Ireland and India also encountered such issues later in the competition. Men in Blue reportedly complained to the authorities in New York about the undercooked pitch as well.
But the ICC is unfazed. The cricket governing body stated in an official statement that the problem stems from the fact that not much cricket has been played on the surface. The statement also said that in order to create better matches going forward, the elite groundskeepers are putting forth endless effort to find a solution.
Also read: Andy Flower harshly criticises New York’s drop-in pitch and outfield
The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium’s current pitches have not performed as consistently as we would have all liked, according to the ICC. In order to address the issue and provide the best surfaces for the remaining games, the elite grounds crew has been working nonstop since yesterday’s game ended, according to the statement.
The June 7 match between Canada and Ireland will also take place in New York. Prior to the major match between India and Pakistan on June 9, they will also host the Netherlands vs. South Africa match. On the evening, a sizable crowd is anticipated, and the ICC is working hard to present a match of higher calibre. But right now, the indicators don’t seem promising.
Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, has also expressed his scepticism about the surface. The 37-year-old stated he would not finalise the starting lineup until he had seen the field on game day.