After the Afghanistan-Bangladesh match, the ICC independent pitch consultant assessed the outfield as average and expressed comfort with its condition.
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England’s cricket team is preparing for a difficult day on Tuesday in Dharamsala, as they have been made aware of potential issues with the condition of the outfield at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium. This information comes from their former player and current Afghanistan coach, Jonathan Trott. The outfield at Dharamsala has been a persistent issue, known for its uneven and patchy surface. In a recent match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan, players faced difficulties with slips and losing their footing while fielding in the deep. This problem with the outfield is not new, it previously caused the last-minute relocation of an India-Australia Test match to Indore in February.
Trott’s warning held significant importance as he recounted the close call Mujeeb Ur Rahman had with a potentially serious knee injury while trying to prevent a boundary. This highlighted the potential hazards of the outfield. It is reported that Trott reached out to England players to advise them about the conditions they could face in their upcoming match against Bangladesh. In response, the ICC made it clear that match officials have control over the pitch and outfield conditions. The official match report for Saturday’s game rated the outfield as “average,” and Andy Atkinson, the ICC’s independent pitch consultant, inspected it on Sunday and expressed satisfaction with its condition. Javagal Srinath, the Match Referee for the next game, also approved of the conditions.
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Even with these assurances, the ground staff at HPCA took proactive steps to ensure optimal playing conditions. They diligently watered the outfield immediately after the last game and continued to do so on Sunday afternoon, paying particular attention to the bowlers’ run-up areas. For the upcoming match on Tuesday, a fresh pitch adjacent to Saturday’s unusually slow surface will be used. In the worst-case scenario, if the umpires and match referee find the ground conditions to be “dangerous or unreasonable,” they have the power to suspend and ultimately cancel the game. In such cases, both teams would receive points. For Tuesday’s fixture, Ahsan Raza and Paul Wilson will serve as standing umpires, with Srinath overseeing as the match referee.
The uncertain condition of the outfield might be a factor in England’s choice to leave Ben Stokes out of the team. Stokes was absent from their last match against New Zealand because of a left-hip injury. While he did take part in practice sessions, he seemed cautious and his limited match experience could lead England to exercise caution in including him for the Bangladesh game. With an upcoming match against Bangladesh, England’s World Cup campaign is already high-stakes. However, the additional challenge of unpredictable outfield conditions in Dharamsala adds another layer of complexity and concern.
