GEARING UP FOR THE FINAL

ICC identifies fresh pitch for World T20 final in Kolkata

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Andy Atkinson is overseeing the pitch preparation at the Eden Gardens. © Cricbuzz

The ICC World T20 2016 final at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata is likely to be played on a fresh pitch that has not been used in this tournament so far. Virat Kohli's heroics might have taken the attention off the 22-yards that offered vicious turn in the early part of India's match against Pakistan on March 19, but it did not escape International Cricket Council's notice.

Andy Atkinson, chief of ICC's grounds and pitches committee, arrived at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday (March 29) morning. Atkinson, who is recovering from a knee surgery, was asked to come down to India and oversee the tracks in Nagpur and Eden Gardens in Kolkata where the playing surfaces have behaved oddly. It could not be ascertained whether the Match Referees had filed adverse reports about the pitches at the two venues, but in ICC's book such tracks are "not suitable for WT20 matches".

Atkinson, who was supposed to come down to Kolkata only two days before the final slated on April 3, arrived on Monday. "Atkinson was asked to go straight to Eden Gardens while BCCI chief curator Daljit Singh was sent to Mumbai to oversee the preparation of the track there," an ICC source said.

Although Cricket Association of Bengal's chief curator Sujan Mukherjee had zeroed in on the pitch used in the Pakistan-Bangladesh group league match and was preparing it for the final, Atkinson rejected it and selected a fresh pitch - strip No. 7 for Sunday's final.

Atkinson has not only briefed Mukherjee and the local ground staff about how to go about their job but has also given them the guidelines in writing, effectively taking over the task of preparing the pitch at Eden Gardens for the final. Rolling and watering of the strip identified by Atkinson has already started. However, the new track will have to be cleared by the broadcasters as it would mean moving the camera and other equipment a few yards in such a manner that it doesn't block the view of spectators.

Atkinson will be assisted by BCCI's East Zone curator Asish Bhowmick.

© TNN

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