IND vs PAK: Aakash Chopra Shuts Down Mohammad Hafeez For Bizarre Pitch Claim

Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Aakash Chopra has responded to the bizarre claim made by the former Pakistan National Cricket Team captain Mohammad Hafeez on the pitches in India for the ICC World Cup 2023.

Hafeez took to his official X handle to share pictures of the Chennai pitch from India vs Australia and New Zealand vs Bangladesh games and pinpointed the difference in the surface for the two games.

In the same post, he attached a video from his discussion on PTV Sports where he was seen saying:

“At first, tomorrow the decision will be made whether the tournament is being organized by the ICC or the BCCI. Till now, there are three venues where two matches have been played – Hyderabad, Delhi, and Dharamsala.”

“The pitch conditions were similar and it behaved similarly in both games. If the pitch is the same in Chennai, which was used for India vs Australia, then it’s understandable. But if there are slight changes, you can understand who is organizing the tournament.”

He added that there should be no outside influence and the ICC should take all the decisions regarding the pitches. He said:

“There should not be any influence, it’s an ICC tournament. It has to run as per its curators and instructions. If tomorrow’s pitch’s relevance is similar and the momentum is the same, it’s understandable. But if there’s a slight change like if it’s a batting track or different conditions, this is a big question mark and that’s my statement.”

Two different characteristic pitches at the same venue #Chennai. Sawal tou banta hai??? #CWC23 #GameOnHai pic.twitter.com/DOxTovr28T

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) October 13, 2023

Brother, the square at Chennai have pitches made with different soil now – Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra took to X to respond to Mohammad Hafeez, saying that the pitches in India are made with a mix of red and black soil and therefore they tend to act differently.

“Brother, the square at Chennai (and at many other stadia in India) have pitches made with different soil now. Red-Black and mixed. As you’d know, pitches made with different soil component will play differently. Therefore, don’t be surprised if the pitches behave radically different at the same venue throughout the World Cup,” Chopra wrote on X.

Brother, the square at Chennai (and at many other stadia in India) have pitches made with different soil now. Red-Black and mixed. As you’d know…pitches made with different soil component will play differently. Therefore, don’t be surprised if the pitches behave radically… https://t.co/FNaM3cIghy

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 13, 2023

Meanwhile, the high-octane clash between the India National Cricket Team and the Pakistan National Cricket Team will be held on October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.