PCA pitch promises help to seamers ufffd not a slow turner that India have favoured in the World Cup
PCA pitch promises help to seamers ufffd not a slow turner that India have favoured in the World Cup
The Indian team could be denied the crucial home advantage in their much-anticipated World Cup semi-final against Pakistan here on March 30.
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| Zaheer Khan is delighted after claiming West Indies' Devon Smith in Chennai on March 20. PIC/SURESH KK |
The pitch at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium here would not be as dry as the one in Motera where Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Co. beat Australia by five-wickets in the quarter-finals.
Curator Daljit Singh and his ground staff were seen watering the centre square as well as the main pitch, which sported some grass as well.
If anything, the Mohali pitch promises a lot of pace and bounce, whereas the Indian team has relied on slow turning tracks in the tournament so far. "It would be a wicket where the bowlers will have some advantage even during the second half of the match," Daljit said.
"It's very hot during the day and we have already reached the fag end of the season, which means, we have to pour some water to keep it alive.
"There will be good carry for the bowlers."
SUNDAY MiD DAY has learnt that a 'hot' roller would be used to change the colour of the grass. It will have a burnt effect which will help the ball skid.
However, if the colour of the grass remains green, it would help the seamers with extra movement.
India pace ace Zaheer Khan will probably welcome this kind of a track. Zaheer has been India's best bowler on show during the tournament with 17 wickets. He has bowled with venom and provided crucial breakthroughs to his team.
For Pakistan, pacer Umar Gul is the in-form bowler with 14 wickets.
"By the look of the wicket 96 hours before play starts, it looks like the ball will not turn much, not like in Ahmedabad where the ball turned from the first over," Daljit said.
"Here, the medium pacers would have a little more advantage."
