WT20: ICC official admits to poor pitch for Pakistan-Sri Lanka Semi-Final

By Fathima Zanaida

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (TheSportsNEXT) October 6, 2012: Amid growing criticism on quality of the pitch used for the all-important Semi-Final match of the ICC World Twenty20 2012 between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, an official of the International Cricket Council has admitted to the poor quality of the pitch.

 

Sri Lanka struggled hard to score 139 runs on a pitch which had uneven bounce, double paced nature, which made shot-making the hardest job in the world. Pakistan were reduced to 123 runs thus falling 16 runs short of the target, thereafter a huge uproar has been started in the Pakistani media questioning the basic purpose of that pitch especially in a Twenty20 match.

The Twenty20 cricket came into being with a purpose to serve the audience with a huge dose of boundaries and sixes and the last night’s match between Australia and West Indies was a prime example of Twenty20 brand that we all are used to.

However, there is something fishy as far as pitch-selection for Pakistan cricket team’s matches in the ICC World Cup matches. Right from the ICC World Cup 2003 played in West Indies, Pakistan were made to play Ireland on a pitch that helped seam-bowlers more than any other pitch in the competition. During the 2007 ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistan had to play their matches against South Africa and New Zealand on seamers-friendly tracks. During the ICC World Cup 2011, Pakistan-India match was played on a pitch which lacked quality of an international match. And now the semi-final match had the worst pitch of the tournament to decide one of the top three important matches.

ICC Chief Executive Officer, Dave Richardson, came on the scene on Saturday admitting the pitch used for Pakistan-Sri Lanka semi-final match was below standard and wasn’t “Ideal” for Twenty20 cricket.

Although he mentioned all the pros and cons in preparation of the pitches, but failed to answer why it’s Pakistani matches which find such pitches.

Dave Richardson, while talking to reporters in Colombo on the eve of ICC World Twenty20 final, said, "Ideally, we need to ensure that a pitch doesn't change its condition from one innings to next one. Yes, the pitch used in the first semifinal wasn't an ideal wicket for T20 format, as there was too much assistance to spinners”.