ICC reveals Pitch Rating for T20 World Cup 2024 pitches; IND vs PAK pitch rating revealed

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has slammed the quality of several pitches used during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in June.

The tournament, held across the West Indies and the USA, had come under heavy scrutiny as the ICC released its damning pitch ratings on Tuesday, August 20.

The ICC has issued pitch ratings for the 52 completed matches of the T20 World Cup 2024, with a shocking revelation that three pitches have been deemed 'unsatisfactory'.

Out of the 52 completed matches, three pitches, including a semi-final, were harshly condemned as 'unsatisfactory' by the ICC.

New York and Trinidad pitches for T20 World Cup 2024 face ICC wrath

As expected, the makeshift Nassau County Cricket Stadium in New York has found itself at the center of a storm. Two of the three ‘unsatisfactory’ surfaces were located in the USA’s makeshift ground, which was prepared in a mere five months to host eight group stage matches of the T20 World Cup 2024.

New York’s two pitches fail to meet even the basic expectations. The Sri Lanka vs South Africa and India vs Ireland group clashes were held at Nassau County Cricket Stadium. Both games were marred by unpredictable and sluggish pitches, leading to shocking collapses.

Ireland, batting first against India, could only muster 96 runs before being crushed in an eight-wicket defeat. Similarly, Sri Lanka faced humiliation, skipping just 77 runs as South Africa cruised to victory in 17 overs at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium.

Afghanistan vs South Africa semi-final pitch receives ‘unsatisfactory’ rating

But the drama didn’t end in New York, as the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium in Trinidad also came into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. During the high-stakes first semi-final between Afghanistan and South Africa, the Trinidad pitch delivered a shocker that shattered Rashid Khan and his team’s World Cup dreams, all thanks to the poor pitch conditions.

Afghanistan team was skittled out for just 56 runs, their lowest T20I score, in the high-voltage semi-final, which turned into a one-sided affair as South Africa chased down the paltry target in just 8.5 overs to march into their first-ever final with ease.

After the heartbreaking defeat, Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott stated: “That’s not the pitch that you want to have a match, a semi-final of a World Cup, on plain and simple. It should be a fair contest."

"I’m not saying it should be flat completely with no spin and no seam movement, but I’m saying you shouldn’t have batsmen worrying about going forward and the ball flying over their heads. You should be confident in your foot movement and be able to hit through the line or use your skills.”

18 T20 World Cup 2024 pitches rated 'very good' by ICC

Well, adding to the controversy, the Trinidad for the Afghanistan and South Africa semi-final was deemed ‘unsatisfactory’ by the ICC.

Even the pitch at the Guyana National Stadium in Georgetown for the second semi-final between India and England was given just a ‘satisfactory’ rating.

However, the Kensington Oval, which hosted the T20 World Cup 2024 final between India and Afghanistan, received a very good rating from the ICC.

A total of 31 pitches across the tournament received a 'satisfactory’ rating, and 18 were praised as 'very good,’ while three surfaces failed to deliver and were handed an unsatisfactory rating by the governing body.