ICC World Cup 2019 | Pitch not altered as per India’s choice, says Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar has stated that the pitches in England are not being altered as per India’s choice, referring to the absence of grass in the encounter between India and South Africa. The pitches in most of the other matches of the tournament were played on wickets with a tinge of green.
India dominated in their campaign opener against South Africa on Wednesday and went on to win the match by six wickets. The wicket had no grass on it but the bowlers made life difficult for batsmen by bowling tight lines. However, Shoaib Akhtar feels that many people were questioning India’s win on the grounds that the pitch was altered as per the team management’s choice and further went on to dismiss all such claims.
“According to the rumours I have heard, India is getting pitches being made as per its choice in England. The tournament is an ICC event being played in England and the logic that is given for the same is that 80% of the funding and television rights come from India, and thereby, the team is using that tool to its advantage. Many people in India and England as well have been raising questions about the same. The question that they ask is why the match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, among others, was played on a green top,” Shoaib said on his Youtube channel.
“For that matter, let us even accept that India has tried to make wickets of its choice but the toss was not in India’s hands. Faf du Plessis won the toss today (Wednesday) and had his team batted for full 50 overs, despite the various issues plaguing them, they could have at least scored 270. The point I am trying to make here is that the toss is not in India’s hand and I would even believe these rumours if the tournament was played in India. However, it is being played in England and under the laws of ICC. Secondly, the matches are played on foreign grounds with foreign groundsmen who will not listen to anyone, that much I can guarantee you,” he added.
The former pacer, who has featured for Pakistan in 46 Tests and 163 ODIs, has played quite a few matches in England as well. He claims that the groundsmen never even listened to the England management with respect to the pitches.
“Even we tried a lot to convince them when we played in Lords but they used to make wickets as per their whimsies. They did not even listen to the demands of the English team. There are certain guidelines which are followed and such things cannot be influenced,” explained the 43-year-old.
Akhtar even credited India for their performance and singled out the bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal for their efforts.
“I feel that the win is being made to look as controversial but India won because of its ability. You will have to agree that India was a better team today over South Africa,” he asserted.
India will face Pakistan on June 16 at Old Trafford and the Rawalpindi-born pacer hoped that his country shakes off their record of never having defeated their neighbours in a World Cup game.
“I can tell you now itself that the match between India and Pakistan will be played on a good surface and such games will be high scoring. I hope Pakistan changes history and defeats India in that match, Sarfaraz and co. definitely have a chance,” he signed off.
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