After KKR, CSK, Zaheer Khan goes to war with LSG pitch curator; levels serious corruption allegations

LSG mentor Zaheer Khan slammed the Ekana curator and blamed him for his team's defeat to the Punjab Kings at Lucknow. Zaheer was speaking about the home advantage for IPL teams and felt that his team was deprived of it.

The home advantage has been a critical talking point in this year's IPL so far, with many teams complaining of not getting the advantage of it during their home games. With his statements, Zaheer Khan has joined this list as well.

While Zaheer blamed the loss on not getting the required home advantage, he was also ready to accept that his team didn't perform well on the day. As a result, Zaheer wants LSG to focus on the upcoming games in order to launch a comeback.

Zaheer Khan blames Lucknow's curator for LSG's defeat

While speaking at the post-match press conference, Zaheer Khan blamed Lucknow's pitch curator for Tuesday's defeat. The former India quick used strong words for the curator and claimed that he is not thinking about it being a home game for LSG.

"Considering it's a home game and in IPL, you've seen how teams have looked at taking a little bit of home advantage, from that point of view, you've seen the curator is not really thinking that it's a home game. I think maybe it looked like, you know, it was Punjab curator out here," Zaheer was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Zaheer Khan further hoped for this game to be the last game where the pitch is not favorable to the home team. He feels that such kind of a pitch will also disappoint the home fans who cheered for their team the whole evening.

"So that's something which we will figure out. It's a new set-up for me, but I hope that this is the first and the last game when it comes to that. Because you are disappointing the Lucknow fans as well. They've come up with so many expectations of winning the first home game here," he added.

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Curious case of home advantage

It is not the first time that the franchises have shown their disagreement towards the home conditions this IPL season. It all started just after the opening game of IPL when KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane expressed his desire to play on a turning pitch, which suits the home team.

However, the Eden Gardens pitch curator rejected his comments and claimed that the franchises do not have any say on the pitch despite playing at home grounds. A few days later, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming also gave a similar statement.

Fleming made a shocking claim that his side doesn't get any home advantage, and they have struggled to read the pitch at Chepauk over the last couple of years. Talking about the home advantage, Gujarat Titans batting coach Parthiv Patel revealed how his team decided to play the match against Mumbai Indians on a black soil pitch to beat them.

Zaheer Khan accepts LSG's poor performance

While he blamed the pitch curator, Zaheer Khan accepted that LSG didn't play well to deserve a win. However, he is confident of his team showing the fightback and wants them to have the right mindset required to win the match.

"As a team, we are confident. We accept that we've lost the game, and we have got to do whatever it takes to make that impact in the home leg. We still have six more games to go here, and this team has shown in the season so far, whatever little cricket is played, that we have the right outlook and the mindset to look at the IPL," he mentioned.

Lucknow Super Giants have won one game and lost two so far. They are in the sixth spot in the points table currently and have a lot of work to do if they aim to move to the top. The injuries have also hampered their progress with a no. of fast bowlers not being fully fit.

Also Read: Zaheer Khan picks best IPL pacer, snubs Lasith Malinga, Dwayne Bravo