Quantcast

Sri Lanka approach ICC with pitch concerns

Key members of the Sri Lankan camp are worried the pitch at The Oval will favour Australia

Sri Lanka are worried a green pitch will favour Australia when the two sides meet at The Oval on Saturday evening (7.30pm AEST, Kayo, Fox Cricket, 9GEM).

The London ground has played host to some of the biggest scores of the World Cup to date, with five out of eight innings so far surpassing 300 runs.

However, after training at the ground on Friday, Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne raised concerns about the state of the pitch.

Karunaratne prepared for Aussie pace attack

"If you take The Oval wicket, it's green," he told reporters. "We're not expecting every wicket should be a white top. We ask for a fair wicket. For 50-50 wickets.

"That's what we want and what all the spectators want."

The comments came after Sri Lankan team manager Ashantha de Mel had lodged a formal complaint to World Cup chiefs about the state of the pitches and facilities provided to Sri Lanka during the tournament to date.


Image Id: 0F450D247D164DCABF09438B304D414F Image Caption: Sri Lanka prepare to take on Australia at The Oval // Getty

"What we have found out is that for the four matches we have played so far at Cardiff and Bristol, the ICC has prepared a green pitch," he told Daily News.

"At the same venues, the other countries have played on pitches are brown and favourable for high scoring.

"The pitch being prepared for our match against Australia on Saturday here at The Oval is green. It is not sour grapes that we are complaining."

The Sri Lankan camp were also disappointed with the standard of training facilities and accommodation, according to de Mel, who said the concerns were officially brought to the ICC's notice.

"Even the practice facilities provided at Cardiff were unsatisfactory," he added.

"Instead of three nets they gave us only two, and the hotel we were put up at Bristol did not have a swimming pool, which is very essential for every team – for the fast bowlers, especially, to relax their muscles after practice.

"The hotels that Pakistan and Bangladesh were put up at Bristol had swimming pools."

The ICC confirmed they received the complaint but dismissed allegations about pitch and unfair treatment.

"We employ an independent pitch advisor to work with the host curators at all ICC events and the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 is no different," the governing body said in a statement.

Ponting's World Cup danger men: Sri Lanka

"We are happy with the wickets that have been produced across the event so far in English conditions.

"At the heart of our planning is the philosophy that all 10 teams are treated equally to enable them to have the best possible preparation for the event," it added.

"As part of the four-year planning process to deliver this event, we have liaised with all teams to ensure they are happy with their set up and are available to work with them should any issues arise that have not been previously anticipated."

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE