India ‘switches’ pitch for World Cup semi-final match without ICC’s permission

A British media has claimed Indian cricket authorities have switched the pitch for their team's semi-final on Wednesday against New Zealand in Mumbai without the permission of the International Cricket Council (ICC)

Daily Mail says Pitches at ICC events are prepared under the supervision of the governing body's consultant, Andy Atkinson, who agrees in advance with the home board which of the numbered strips on the square will be used for each game.

The report said the agreement has been ignored as the tournament reaches its climax, with the semi-final set to take place on a pitch that has already been used twice - potentially assisting India's world-class spinners as they seek to reach their first 50-over World Cup final since 2011.

The pitch for Wednesday's game, scheduled to begin at 2:30 pm (Bangladesh time) 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.

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, the report added.

Atkinson is understood to have been told there is an unspecified problem with pitch No 7 - an opinion he is thought not to share.

Meanwhile, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said on Tuesday they will approach their blockbuster World Cup semi-final against India with a clean slate and confidence in their ability to upstage the in-form hosts in Mumbai, according to Reuters.

The Black Caps began the tournament with four straight wins but suffered the first of four successive defeats against Rohit Sharma's side amid a period of injury issues, before booking a place in Wednesday's semi-final with a late push.

Williamson, who returned from knee surgery for the World Cup and recovered from a fractured finger during it, missed the loss to India but is expecting a similarly tough test from the hosts who went unbeaten in the group stage.

"We know it's going to be a really tough challenge. They're a side that's been playing extremely well, but we also know come finals time everything starts again and it's all about the day," Williamson told reporters.

"So for us as a team it's very much the focus on our cricket again. We've played good cricket throughout. We've had a couple of narrow losses and a few wins along the way which have put us in this position we're in.

"We're excited about the challenge ahead."

New Zealand dashed India's hopes in the semi-finals of the 2019 edition and Williamson said he was not concerned that his side were still considered underdogs.

"I don't think it has changed too much, but that's fine and India have been exceptional," Williamson said.

"One of the, if not the best team going around and playing cricket that matches that. But we know as well, on our day when we play our best cricket it certainly gives us the best chance. And come finals time anything can happen."

Top-order batsman Rachin Ravindra filled the void left by Williamson during their campaign and has been a revelation with 565 runs to earn praise from the skipper.

"It's not just the volume of runs that he's achieved so far but how he's been scoring them and how it's been geared towards trying to move the team forward," Williamson said.

"Some fantastic contributions and at such a young age. I'm sure we'll see plenty more of it to come."

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma said on Tuesday that they will not be weighed down by history when they face New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final as they have already shown they can handle the high expectations during their unbeaten run in the group stage.

India won their first World Cup in 1983 and endured a long wait before MS Dhoni’s side claimed the trophy on home soil in 2011 and the current side has raised hopes of another triumph with nine wins in a flawless campaign before Wednesday’s game.

“That’s the beauty of this team. Half of the guys weren’t even born when we won our first World Cup. And then when we won our second World Cup in 2011, half of the guys weren’t even playing the game,” Rohit told reporters in Mumbai.

 “This current crop of players, they’re very much into what’s happening today, what can happen tomorrow. Those are things they try and focus on. I don’t see them talking about how we won the last World Cup, how we won our first World Cup.

 “The focus is on how they can get better as players, what they can bring to the team and what are the things they need to improve.”

Rohit said he was impressed with how his men had managed the pressure from an expectant nation.

 “From the first game to the last game, be it a league match, semi-final or final, whenever you play a World Cup game there’s always pressure,” Rohit said.

 “This is obvious because the World Cup is a World Cup, that’s why there’s pressure. But we have handled that pressure very well in the last nine games.”

New Zealand represent a bogey team for India having beaten them in the 2019 semi-finals and Rohit acknowledged the threat of Kane Williamson’s side.

“Whenever we’ve come up against New Zealand, (they are) probably the most disciplined team in terms of how they want to play the game. And they play their cricket very smartly. They understand the opposition quite well,” he added.

 “Obviously having played with a lot of our players in different stages of their careers, different tournaments, they do understand the mentality of the opposition.

 “It’s the same for us as well.”