Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra gave a logical and elaborate answer to ex-Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez, who had questioned the difference in color of pitches at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai for different matches in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.
The 42-year-old pointed out the difference in Chepauk's pitch for two games between India and Australia and Bangladesh versus New Zealand. He shared screenshots of pitches in Chennai for two different games. The pitch looked completely different, with more roughs to aid the spinners for India vs Australia, which the hosts won by six wickets.
Hafeez also shared a video where he pointed out similarities in pitches for the first two games in Hyderabad, Delhi, and Dharamsala. He also insisted that the pitch for the India vs. Pakistan game at Ahmedabad should be similar to opening World Cup game between England and New Zealand, which Kiwis won by 9 wickets.
Hafeez said: “First, tomorrow the decision will be made whether the tournament is being organized by the ICC or the BCCI. Till now, there are three venues where two matches have been played – Hyderabad, Delhi, and Dharamsala.
The pitch conditions were similar and it behaved similarly in both games. If the pitch is the same in Chennai, which was used for India vs Australia, then it’s understandable. But if there are slight changes, you can understand who is organizing the tournament.”
“There should not be any influence, it’s an ICC tournament. It has to run as per its curators and instructions. If tomorrow's pitch’s relevance is similar and the momentum is the same, it’s understandable. But if there’s a slight change like if it’s a batting track or different conditions, this is a big question mark and that’s my statement,” he added.
Now Aakash Chopra schooled Mohammad Hafeez and said that in India, pitches are made from different soil, with a mix of red and black soil, which results in the pitch behaving in different ways.
“Brother, the square at Chennai (and at many other stadia in India) have pitches made with different soil now. Red-Black and mixed. As you’d know, pitches made with different soil components will play differently. Therefore, don’t be surprised if the pitches behave radically differently at the same venue throughout the World Cup,” Chopra posted on ‘X’.
Both India and Pakistan have won both their first two CWC 2023 matches. The two will clash on October 14, 2023 in Ahmedabad.
