{"id":297755,"date":"2023-11-16T13:24:58","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T13:24:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/?p=297755"},"modified":"2023-11-16T13:24:58","modified_gmt":"2023-11-16T13:24:58","slug":"india-legend-labels-pitch-critics-morons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/%d1%81ricket\/india-legend-labels-pitch-critics-morons\/","title":{"rendered":"India legend labels pitch critics 'morons'"},"content":{"rendered":"
India have copped widespread criticism after switching the pitches before their World Cup semi-final victory, but cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar believes those critics are ‘morons’.<\/p>\n
The host nation swept New Zealand aside on Wednesday to book their place in the final and move a step closer to securing a third ODI World Cup crown.<\/p>\n
But there was controversy before the game after Mail Sport revealed the semi-final would be played on a used pitch in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, which had already staged two games earlier in the tournament.<\/p>\n
The ICC’s pitch consultant was less than impressed with the change, wih Indian officials asking BCCI curators to shave off most of the grass on the surface.<\/p>\n
Former England captain Michael Vaughan was scathing of the move.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
India legend Sunil Gavaskar has hit out at ‘morons’ who criticised the pitch decision<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Mail Sport revealed that India swapped the pitch ahead of their World Cup semi final<\/p>\n
‘It is a bit of a sour taste,’ he said on Test Match Special. ‘It doesn’t sit with me that a World Cup semi-final is played on a used pitch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘I don’t think India needed to do anything. They have played the best cricket by a country mile. They shouldn’t have got involved in what the surface should be.’<\/p>\n
Vaughan later added: ‘Let’s not beat around the truth: the ICC want India in the final. They probably would’ve beaten New Zealand on any pitch\u2026 The rest of the world will be like: ‘Really? Don’t make it so obvious.’<\/p>\n
Anil Kumble, the respected former India spinner and head coach, told ESPNcricinfo he had ‘no idea’ why the pitch had been changed so late on.<\/p>\n
‘It’s very surprising,’ he said. ‘All the broadcast equipment was set up for the [fresh] pitch and now today it seems like they’ve moved to the surface which was used.’<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Pakistan legend Wasim Akram tweeted: ‘This should be the last thing on the Indian cricket team’s mind. This is just unnecessary.’<\/p>\n
But Gavaskar has branded those detractors as ‘morons’ and says they should ‘shut up’.<\/p>\n
‘This has been such a good pitch to bat on. We’ve had nearly 730 runs scored here,’ he said on Star Sports.<\/p>\n
‘All those morons who were talking about the pitch being changed and that it would do the Indian bowlers a favour, I hope they will just shut up.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Michael Vaughan hit out at the move and said it was blatant but he’s been told to ‘shut up’<\/p>\n
‘Stop taking potshots at India just because it helps you get eyeballs. Nonsense.<\/p>\n
‘Even if the pitch was changed, it was there before the toss for both the teams. It wasn’t changed in the mid-innings. It wasn’t changed after the toss was done.<\/p>\n
‘The pitch was the same for both teams. You are a good enough team, you play on that pitch and you win. And India has done that. So stop talking about pitches.<\/p>\n
‘Already they’re talking about the pitch in Ahmedabad (the venue for the final). The second semi-final hasn’t even taken place, you’re talking about the pitch being changed in Ahmedabad. Nonsense.’<\/p>\n