In the buildup to the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match in the ODI World Cup 2023 on Saturday, former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has questioned the pitch to be used. Speaking on Pakistan’s PTV, Hafeez targeted the BCCI and said the game between the arch-rivals on October 14 will decide who is conducting the showpiece event. Hafeez opined that if the track in Ahmedabad behaves differently than the one used in Chennai then that will be questionable.
“Kal ye faisla hoga ki ye tournament ICC kara raha hai ya BCCI (It will be decided on Saturday if ICC or BCCI conducts the tournament). So far, three venues have hosted two games each – Hyderabad, Delhi and Dharamsala. The pitch conditions were similar. If the track in Ahmedabad behaves like the Chennai strip where India defeated Australia, then it won’t be difficult to understand,” Mohammad Hafeez said.
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“But if you get to see any change, then you will also know who is conducting the World Cup. This is an ICC tournament and the pitches are curated as per the guidelines given by it. If the track behaves in a similar way, I can understand that. But if it acts differently, then it would be a big question mark,” he asserted.
A proper spin track in Chennai for India vs Australia and totally different today in New Zealand vs Bangladesh! Is this ICC’s tournament or is BCCI making pitches? Just horrible 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️
Mohammad Hafeez is spot on! Well said, Professor 🔥🔥 #CWC23 #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/WtTJZapZ0b
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) October 13, 2023
Hafeez’s comment comes after the New Zealand vs Bangladesh game in Chennai on Friday on which the pitch didn’t assist the spinners much as compared to the scenario in the India vs Australia match last week. However, it is important to note that the two teams are focusing on their preparation and treating it like just another game.
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The hype is around India’s 7-0 record against Pakistan in the ODI World Cups, but both captains aren’t paying any heed to that. On the eve of the much-awaited game, the Pakistan captain said they aren’t feeling any pressure while India skipper Rohit Sharma said he isn’t focusing on any such number or stats.
It remains to be seen whether Hafeez’s concerns about the pitch will be proven right or not. However, one thing is for sure the India vs Pakistan match is always a high-voltage clash and the fans are expecting a cracker of a contest on Saturday.
