Apex Cricket Council advises pitch curators to prepare neutral surfaces for ODI World Cup 2023, Reports

ODI World Cup 2023 stadiums (Source-Twitter)

The Indian cricket team will kick off their campaign in the ODI World Cup 2023 on October 8 against Australia at Chennai, whereas the tournament will begin on October 5. The Men in Blue will be hoping to repeat the triumph from the 2011 edition, when the Asian Giants became the first country to lift the World Cup on their home ground. After that, Australia and England lifted the World Cup on their home grounds in 2015 and 2019, respectively. 

As per reports, now the Apex Cricket Council is trying to minimize the home advantage in the biggest event in cricket. Its head curator, Andy Atkinson, has told different stadium curators to prepare pitches supporting every department of the game. The International body is looking to minimize the home advantage as 10 countries will be playing in the 13th edition of the ODI World Cup, including the host nation. 

Apex Cricket Council head curator instruction to Indian curators for ODI World Cup 2023 

“The Apex Cricket Council head curator said the curators should try and make sure they are not pressured by the home team when it comes to pitch preparation. The focus should be on preparing a wicket that’s as sporting as possible, not something that favours the home side. The wicket will vary as the nature of the soil isn’t the same everywhere. But he wants tracks that promise games going the distance.” said the Apex Cricket Council head curator as a Indian Cricket Board insider informed the Telegraph. 

In the end, the ODI World Cup will kick off on October 5 at the Narendra Stadium Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. Whereas the defending champions, England, will take on New Zealand. The warm-up games are set to begin on September 29. The Indian team will play two warm-up matches against England and the Netherlands before the official game on October 8. It is pertinent to mention that India will host Australia for the three-match ODI series before the World Cup on September 22, 24, and 27, respectively. The series will be played in three venues Mohali, Indore, and Rajkot.