ODI International Cup 2023: Sunil Gavaskar and Michael Vaughan open up at the alleged pitch-change controversy at Wankhede

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A significant controversy surfaced at the the most important India as opposed to New Zealand semi-final of the ODI International Cup 2023 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium relating to an alleged last-minute pitch replace.

Regardless of the Global Cricket Council’s (ICC) pitch marketing consultant, Andy Atkinson, approving a ‘contemporary pitch,’ the BCCI reportedly made up our minds to make use of a used pitch for the high-stakes come across, in step with a document from Day-to-day Mail.

The surprising deviation from the to start with authorized pitch raised questions and added a component of intrigue to the much-anticipated semi-final conflict. Amid the rumours, former cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Michael Vaughan replied to the continuing quarrels relating to pitch replace.

Sunil Gavaskar’s take

Gavaskar downplayed issues concerning the semi-final pitch, emphasizing that the skin is similar for all groups. He expressed self assurance within the Indian crew’s talent to take care of quite a lot of pitches and highlighted the possibility of a drier pitch because of the absence of rain, suggesting minimum moisture.

“The pitch is there for all of the groups, so I don’t suppose there must be an excessive amount of dialogue on what this pitch will do or now not do. I do consider that this Indian crew is completely able to dealing with any more or less floor. Having you noticed that within the event thus far. And if it’s a drier pitch, which could be the case merely since the rains have long gone. So there will probably be there’s no trace of any moisture,” Gavaskar stated, as quoted by means of India As of late.

The Mumbai-born cricketer said the potential of a little bit of spin however emphasised Wankhede’s historically batting-friendly nature, announcing that the pitch must now not pose vital demanding situations for the Males in Blue, particularly given their professional bowling lineup.

“Sure, there will probably be one that there may well be just a bit little bit of spin, no query about it. However the Mumbai pitch is most often excellent for bating, so I don’t suppose there must be an excessive amount of of a subject. With the type of bowling that we have got, bowlers who’ve bowled fantastically, whether or not they’re bowling first or 2nd, I don’t suppose the pitch can be an excessive amount of of a subject in any respect,” the 74-year-old added.

Additionally READ: India veteran Ravi Shastri choices the 2 finalists of ODI International Cup 2023

Michael Vaughan’s opinion

The previous England captain Vaughan weighed in at the stories, declaring that the fit must be performed on a brand new pitch.

“A International Cup semi must be performed on a contemporary pitch .. It’s so simple as that ..” Vaughan wrote in his tweet.

A International Cup semi must be performed on a contemporary pitch .. It’s so simple as that .. https://t.co/dRf6rlTO2O

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 15, 2023