- Kevin Pietersen criticized the pitch conditions in New York.
- He suggested improvement before the India-Pakistan match.
- Pakistan begins their World Cup campaign against the USA.
Pietersen expressed his concerns on social media platform ‘X’, pointing out the safety and quality issues of the pitch, especially after injuries occurred during the Sri Lanka-South Africa game. He called for the organizers to rectify the pitch to ensure it’s safe for the players.
“Hmmmm, that wicket in NYC needs some attention before the big game. 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!” Pietersen posted.
Conversely, former cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra took a more positive stance, indicating that the pitch conditions are likely to get better over time.
He noted that drop-in pitches usually start with a thicker layer of grass and need a few games to settle into a state more favorable for batting.
“Lively pitch at New York. That’s the thing with the drop-in surfaces. Extra layer of grass to begin with. Takes time to settle down. Need cricket to be played on the square for it to become what they end up becoming - good pitches to bat,” Chopra posted.
It’s also important to note that Pakistan, referred to as the Men in Green, are set to begin their World Cup campaign against the USA on June 6 in Dallas, Texas.
Following this, they will face their longstanding rivals India on June 9 and Canada on June 12 in New York. Their last group stage game against Ireland is scheduled for June 16 in Florida.
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