- Aakash Chopra questions ICC’s commitment.
- He criticized poor pitch quality.
- He questioned the timing of matches.
Ex-Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised concerns about the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) commitment to spreading cricket globally. The upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, set to be held in the USA and the West Indies, is not meeting expectations.
Chopra has echoed the widespread disapproval regarding the subpar pitches in the USA and Caribbean, highlighting the abandonment of several matches due to inclement weather, with three fixtures in Florida called off without a single delivery.
The recent Canada versus India match on Saturday (June 15) and the Ireland versus USA game on Friday (June 14), both in Florida, were cancelled owing to adverse weather conditions.
Aakash questioned the effectiveness of the 2024 T20 World Cup in fulfilling ICC’s vision for global expansion.
“One more match didn’t happen due to rain (wet outfield). Not even a single ball was bowled in the India vs Canada match. The last game between the USA and Ireland was also abandoned. My big question is – the globalisation we are trying to achieve through this World Cup, is it half-hearted? Secondly, is it happening the right way because if the matches only are not happening, how is it happening right?” Chopra inquired.
He also critiqued the scheduling of the matches.
“Is it right the way this World Cup is happening? I ask you this question because at what time are the games starting – one at 6:00 AM (IST) and another at 8:00 PM (IST). Even four games are being played in a day, two in the morning and two at night. When the matches happen in New York, you don’t understand the pitches, and when the matches happen in Dallas, they are very late,” Chopra noted.
The New York pitch has faced extensive criticism for its low scoring; Canada’s 137-7 against Ireland was its highest tally.
Chopra also commented on spectator attendance during New York games.
“What is exactly being tried here? Let’s first talk about the timing. The matches were being started at 10:30 AM in New York, which means 8:00 PM in India. So, you had to play matches at 10:30 in the morning for it to be 8:00 at night in India. When you do that, no one comes to watch and the same thing happens in the West Indies,” he said (2:40).
Despite USA’s advancement to the Super Eights, Chopra doubts that ICC’s goal of globalisation is being realized.
“It’s good that you played 20 teams and one or two teams processed and a few favorites were left behind, you have done globalisation that way. However, the way the matches are being played, especially with the bad pitch in New York and the storm in Florida, although you couldn’t have predicted that, but it rains in the West Indies,” he asserted.
