As the T20 World Cup 2024 draws to a close, with India and South Africa set to clash in the final in Barbados, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has voiced strong criticism regarding the subpar state of the pitches throughout the tournament. Speaking on a podcast for ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar expressed his dissatisfaction with the bowler-friendly and sometimes dangerous tracks provided during the event.
Manjrekar pointed out that the International Cricket Council (ICC), which promoted the tournament with the introduction of drop-in pitches from Australia to the United States, should apologize for the poor quality of these surfaces. The ICC had acknowledged the issue, stating that the groundsmen were working to rectify the situation, but the damage had already been done.
In particular, Manjrekar highlighted the pitch conditions during South Africa’s semi-final match against Afghanistan, describing the second innings pitch as “embarrassing.” He emphasized that providing a good pitch is one of the more manageable aspects of hosting a cricket tournament, and the ICC’s failure in this regard was disappointing.
WATCH – Dinesh Karthik Awards The Fielding Medal To Rishabh Pant
“I think 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 aspects, you know, getting a pitch right,” Sanjay Manjrekar said.
The conditions were reportedly worse in the USA, where even top teams struggled to score above 100 due to the uneven playing surfaces. During India’s semi-final against England, the Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel exploited the pitch conditions, each taking three wickets to secure India’s place in the final. The English batsmen struggled with deliveries that kept extremely low, making it difficult for them to adapt.
“We had a couple of balls that were shooting along the ground, so this is also not the ideal kind of surface. So disappointed,” Sanjay Manjrekar added.
ALSO READ: Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma Break 20-Year-Old Record With Historic Partnership
The highly anticipated final between India and South Africa is scheduled for June 29th at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. Both fans and experts hope that the pitch will offer a fair contest between bat and ball, providing a fitting end to the tournament.
