Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen questioned the nature of the drop-in pitch at Nassau County International cricket stadium ahead of the India vs Pakistan clash at the newly constructed stadium.
The New York stadium witnessed its first World Cup earlier on June 3 where South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets. However, the pitch at Nassau County was criticised due to issues with its pitch and the outfield.
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What did Kevin Pietersen say about the New York pitch ahead of India Pakistan World Cup clash?
Kevin Pietersen shared his thoughts on X, about the condition of the pitch and outfield at Nassau County Stadium in New York, ahead of the blockbuster clash between India and Pakistan on June 9.
He criticized the nature of the drop-in pitch used at the New York stadium, after witnessing a low scoring match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, where the batters struggled to score due to an unpredictable nature of the wicket.
MORE: What is a drop-in pitch in cricket?
In addition, the outfield was not great. It was a heavy sand and lushy outfield where the balls were getting stuck and failed to travel quickly to the boundary.
"That wicket in NYC needs some attention before the big game," Pietersen said. "I’d also suggest having seen a few players that tried to slide and jarred their knees, that all players exercise caution."
Hmmmm, that wicket in NYC needs some attention before the big game.
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) June 4, 2024
I’d also suggest having seen a few players that tried to slide and jarred their knees, that all players exercise caution.
I’m sure everyone is working extremely hard to make sure it’s perfect for IND vs PAK! 🙏🏽
KP also found colleagues and former cricketers who shared his concerns after the first match at Nassau County.
Irfan Pathan tweeted during the SL vs SA match, saying "Not an ideal pitch for T20 cricket. Former India player Sanjay Manjrekar also posted on X, "Pitch of the 80s & batters of the 2020s. Not a good union."
Which T20 World Cup matches will be played at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium?
| Matches | Date | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka vs South Africa (Match 4) | June 3 | 8 PM |
| India vs Ireland (Match 8) | June 5 | 8 PM |
| Canada vs Ireland (Match 13) | June 7 | 8 PM |
| Netherlands vs South Africa (Match 16) | June 8 | 8 PM |
| India vs Pakistan (Match 19) | June 9 | 8 PM |
| Bangladesh vs South Africa (Match 21) | June 10 | 8 PM |
| Canada vs Pakistan (Match 22) | June 11 | 8 PM |
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