• Cricket fans from both sides have expressed concern over New York pitch ahead of IND vs PAK T20 World Cup 2024 match.

  • The pitch has faced significant criticism primarily due to its inconsistent nature.

T20 World Cup 2024: Netizens express unease as India vs Pakistan encounter to take place on pitch from NED vs SA
India vs Pakistan (Image Source: Twitter)

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As anticipation mounts for the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2024 clash on Sunday (June 9), concerns loom over the state of the pitch at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, USA.

It is likely to be played on the same pitch that recently hosted a match between the Netherlands and South Africa, just 24 hours prior to the high-stakes encounter between the arch-rivals.

New York pitch challenges and ICC’s response

The pitch at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium has faced significant criticism, primarily due to its inconsistent nature characterized by a two-paced surface and uneven bounce. This has led to concerns about its suitability for hosting T20 matches, especially of such high profile. Acknowledging these concerns, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly conceded to the issues with the pitch at the New York venue. They have assured stakeholders that they are actively working on finding solutions to rectify the situation and ensure that the remaining matches in the tournament are played on surfaces that meet the required standards of quality and fairness.

Impact on matches and Teams’ experiences

Despite the assurances from the ICC, the subsequent matches played at the venue have shown little improvement in pitch conditions. For instance, while Canada managed to score a respectable total of 137 against Ireland, the Irish team struggled in their run chase and could only reach 125, indicating the challenges posed by the pitch. In the latest match held in New York, South Africa’s bowlers dominated, restricting the Netherlands to a mere 103 runs. However, South Africa also faced difficulties during their chase, losing six wickets before reaching the target, which they managed to achieve only in the penultimate over.

India have had its share of experience on these challenging pitches, having played two matches, including a warm-up game, at the venue. Despite their familiarity, both pitches proved to be challenging for the batters. On the other hand, Pakistan, which faced defeat against the USA, could face similar challenges due to the unpredictable bounce and uneven surface, adding an extra layer of complexity to the much-anticipated clash against India.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma gives a cheeky reply to a Pakistani reporter over India advantage in New York

Pitch analysis and previous matches

Based on a report from ESPNcricinfo, Pitch No. 4 has been the battleground for three matches thus far: the warm-up game between Bangladesh and India on June 1, followed by the clash between India and Ireland on June 5, and the encounter between Canada and Ireland on June 7. On June 3, Pitch No. 1 hosted the match between South Africa and Sri Lanka. Notably, Pitch No. 2 was utilized for the Netherlands vs South Africa game on June 8. While Pitch No. 2 was deemed to be more consistent compared to the others, fast bowlers still held sway over the proceedings.

Fan concerns ahead of IND vs PAK clash

Cricket fans from both sides have expressed concern ahead of the match regarding the pitch likely to be used for such a high-stakes encounter. The heavy wear and tear on the surface may result in low-scoring affairs, which could significantly impact the dynamics of the game.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Also WATCH: Rishabh Pant’s amusing response to ‘Tel lagao Dabur ka, wicket lo Babar ka’ chant ahead of IND vs PAK clash in T20 World Cup 2024

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