Cricketers and Experts Criticize USA T20 World Cup Pitch: “Not Suitable for T20 Matches”

The ongoing T20 World Cup in the United States has sparked controversy, with numerous cricketers and experts criticizing the pitch conditions, describing them as “not suitable for T20 matches” and raising concerns about the sport’s future in the country.

The criticism began after the opening matches at the newly constructed Liberty Field in New Jersey. Players from various teams expressed their frustration over the pitch’s excessively hard surface, which they claim has made batting and bowling challenging. The complaints centered around unpredictable bounce and lack of grip for bowlers, leading to several low-scoring games and frequent injuries.

In the match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka was bowled out for just 77 runs, an uncharacteristically low score for a T20 game. South Africa struggled in their chase, eventually reaching 80 runs in 16.2 overs for the loss of 4 wickets. Similarly, the match between Oman and Namibia was also low-scoring, with both teams only managing 109 runs, resulting in a tie. Namibia ultimately won in the super over.

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan voiced his concerns during a post-match analysis. “The pitch here is nothing like what we expected. It’s not a good pitch for T20 cricket

Former South African captain Faf Du Plesis echoed similar sentiments, noting the difficulty in adapting to such conditions, not being really harsh with words called the wicket Spicy. “Wow this wicket is spicy” he posted on X.

An unusual low scoring match between South Africa and Sri Lanka (source: Hindustantimes.com)

Experts Call for Better Preparation

Cricket experts have also weighed in, emphasizing the need for better preparation and understanding of local condition, experts like Harsha Bhogle and Sanjay raised concerns over upcoming matches on these slow pitches.

Local organizers defended their efforts, explaining the challenges of creating suitable cricket pitches in a country with limited experience in the sport. 

The initial backlash has already cast a shadow over the tournament. The cricketing community remains hopeful that improvements will be made swiftly to ensure the remainder of the World Cup can proceed without further complications, providing a positive platform for cricket’s growth in the United States.

“Overall, is it a suitable pitch for T20? I don’t think so”, said Sanjay Manjrekar (source:sportskeeda.com)