ICC Criticizes T20 World Cup Pitches

The ICC has rated three pitches used in the 2024 T20 World Cup as 'unsatisfactory', including those for the first two matches at New York's Nassau County Stadium and the semi-final between Afghanistan and South Africa at the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba. These ratings were released nearly two months after the tournament, which India won by defeating South Africa in the final. The New York pitches, hastily prepared with drop-in surfaces from Adelaide, faced significant criticism for their uneven bounce and player injuries. Despite remedial efforts, only six out of eight matches in New York received 'satisfactory' ratings. The ICC's delayed and understated release of these ratings has raised eyebrows within the cricketing community.