World Cup 2024: Why is Harbhajan Singh not happy with 'drop-in' pitches for Pak vs India match

Pakistan and India set to face-off at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 9

Sports Desk

May 15, 2024

World Cup 2024: Why is Harbhajan Singh not happy with drop-in pitches for Pak vs India match — Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh and an overhead view of Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. — AFP/ICC/File

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed dissatisfaction with the idea of drop-in pitches for the most anticipated match, the Pakistan vs India clash in the T20 World Cup 2024.

The thriller which is slated to be played at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 9.

A total of eight World Cup matches will be played in New York, including two of Pakistan and India each. As many as 10 pitches arrived in New York and the work of installation commenced earlier this month.

However, Harbhajan slammed the decision saying that no one has any idea how those pitches are going to behave. He said that even the pitch curators might struggle to anticipate its behaviour.

The Indian great, who was part of the Blues’ squad that won the 2007 T20 World Cup, emphasised the importance of warm-up matches as only then one would be able to see the behaviour of these pitches.

“Pitches there [Nassau Cricket Stadium] are known to none to be honest. Even the pitch curators might not know how many times will this pitch last. How much heat would be there how much water has been put in? How much bounce would it offer?” Harbhajan said during a press conference organised by Star Sports.

“Once those practice games are played there, then we will get to know how the pitch is acting. And then we can think about combinations. Prior knowing that, we can’t say about team combinations.”

Remember, the construction works at the stadium are underway as the venue in New York will host eight matches in the World Cup, the first one will be between the 2014 T20 World Cup winners Sri Lanka and South Africa. More than 34,000 fans would be able to sit inside the stadium.