According to reports, the pitch was changed at the last minute due to a request from the home team.
The pitch curator at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow has reportedly been fired after the pitch provided too much turn for spinners during the second Twenty20 International between India and New Zealand. The visitors scored 99 runs in their 20 overs, and the Men in Blue scored 100 runs with one ball to spare.
Spinners bowled 30 overs of the 39.5 overs in which 200 runs were scored. It was also a record for the most overs bowled by spinners in a T20I. After the game, skipper Hardik Pandya described the pitch as a “shocker.”
“To be honest, it was a surprise wicket. Both of the games we’ve played so far. I don’t mind playing on difficult pitches. I’m all for it, but these two wickets aren’t designed for T20. “Somewhere down the line, the curators or the grounds where we’ll be playing should make sure the pitches are prepared earlier,” Pandya said after the game.
According to The Indian Express, it was the Indian team that asked the Lucknow curator to change the pitch at the last minute. For the game, the curator had apparently prepared two black soil pitches. However, the home team requested a new red soil pitch three days before the match.The time frame provided was insufficient for the surface to be prepared.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Agarwal of Gwalior has been named the new curator for the Lucknow pitch, with the upcoming IPL in mind. This ground will host Lucknow Super Giants’ home matches, and the BCCI cannot afford to host a match on such pitches.
