ICC pitch consultant raises concerns about switching of pitch that might favour India if they reach ODI World Cup final | Cricket News

ICC pitch consultant Andy Atkinson has raised questions whether the pitch for the final of the ICC World Cup to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19 will be prepared ‘without favouritism’.
The Daily Mail reported that Atkinson had flown to Ahmedabad last Friday to check on preparations for the final after being unsatisfied with the pitch changes being made to reportedly favour India, the home team.
The Indian Express reported on Tuesday that the Indian team management asked BCCI curators to shave off most of the grass on the Wankhede Stadium playing surface for their semifinal clash against New Zealand. The management wanted a slow surface that will ass India’s world-class spinners.
India has performed well on slow tracks at home over the past few years. Before the World Cup, the team management had requested for their matches to be held on slow pitches.
Pitches at ICC events are prepared under the supervision of Atkinson, who agrees in advance with the home board which of the numbered strips on the square will be used for each game.
The Daily Mail report however says that the Ahmedebad Stadium has played three of the four group games on different surfaces from those on the schedule. And Atkinson fears the same could happen if India reach the final on Sunday.
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Atkinson’s recommendation was that the final should be played on pitch No 5, which has been used only once, though he learned last week that pitch No 6 – which has been used twice – could get the nod to bring India’s spinners into play.
In his email, Atkinson warns: “As a result of these actions, one must speculate if this will be the first ever ICC CWC (cricket World Cup) final to have a pitch which has been specifically chosen and prepared to their stipulation at the request of the team management and/or the hierarchy of the home nation board.”
He added: “Or will it be selected or prepared without favouritism for either of the sides competing in the match in the usual manner, and unquestionably because it is the usual pitch for the occasion?”