‘They Owe an Apology to the Fans’: Sanjay Manjrekar Blasts the ICC For Delivering Poor Quality Pitches for T20 World Cup 2024 – News18
The ICC has been criticised by many for delivering some poor quality pitches in the T20 World Cup 2024. (Image: AFP)
Sanjay Manjrekar slammed the ICC for the pitches that have been provided for the T20 World Cup 2024 and even called on the apex body to apologise to the fans and the broadcasting partners.
With the T20 World Cup 2024 coming to an end with both India and South Africa set to face off in the summit clash in Barbados, the former Indian cricketer, Sanjay Manjrekar believes that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should make an apology for the poor state of pitches that have been provided in the tournament.
Manjrekar who was speaking in a podcast for ESPNCricinfo, was not pleased with the kind of tracks that have been provided in the 2024 T20 showpiece event. The pitches seemed to be way too bowler-friendly, with certain tracks being deemed as dangerous as well.
The ICC when promoting the T20 World Cup 2024, talked about how they used drop-in pitches which originated in Australia and were brought to the United States. They also released a statement where they accepted that the quality is not up to par and the groundsmen were working to rectify the issue.
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In South Africa’s semi-final game against Afghanistan, Sanjay Manjrekar termed the condition of the pitch in the second innings where the Proteas batted as ’embarrassing’.
“I think that the ICC owes an apology to fans, and channel partners for the kind of pitch that was provided. Because that is one of the easier controllable, you know getting a pitch right”.
The conditions in the USA were much worse with even top-quality sides settling for scores just above 100 due to how difficult it is to navigate in the uneven playing conditions that are on offer in America.
In India’s semi-final clash against England, the Indian spinners came into the spotlight as the pair of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel took three wickets each to hand the Men in Blue their ticket to the finale. A fair few deliveries were kept extremely low which was something that the English batters could not cope with.
“We had a couple of balls that were shooting along the ground, so this is also not the ideal kind of surface. So disappointed,” Manjrekar added.
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The final between India and South Africa is set to take place at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29th. Both experts and fans will hope that the conditions provided will be a fair balance between bat and ball.
Stay updated with the latest from T20 World Cup 2024. Explore T20 World Cup Match Today. Check Updated list of Highest-run getters and Highest Wicket-Takers In T20 World Cup 2024. Check T20 World Cup 2024 Points Table and players with the Most Sixes, Most Fours , Most Fifties And Most HundredsIn T20 World Cup 2024.
