World Cup: Former Pakistan pacer accuses ICC of providing favourable pitches to India

Former Pakistan pacer Sarfraz Nawaz has accused the ICC of favoring the Indian team in the ongoing cricket World Cup by providing the defending champions pitches tailor made to suit their strengths. “You look at the matches played so far in this World Cup that where India has played the pitches have been prepared to suit their strengths,” Nawaz, who played 55 Tests and 45 ODIs said on a TV channel show. [caption id=“attachment_2131303” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Umesh Yadav and Shikhar Dhawan. Getty Images[/caption] The outspoken and often controversial pacer said that in contrast Pakistan was being made to play on pitches which were not easy for them. “Look at today’s match the pitch was double paced and had lot of bounce which goes against our strengths. I would ask the Pakistan Cricket Board to take up this issue with the ICC and find out what is going on,” he said. Nawaz said that Pakistan should lodge a protest with the ICC as one could see India was being favored by the sport’s world governing body. Former off-spinner Saeed Ajmal who was on the same panel on the channel declined to comment on the issue only pointing out that it was good that Pakistan won against Zimbabwe even on a challenging surface. Nawaz said that it was strange that pitches in the World Cup either were totally suited batsmen or were assisting the bowlers. He said that this same Indian team had struggled in Australia in the preceding Test and ODI tri-series. PTI