Ricky Ponting was surprised and concerned by the decision to introduce a new pitch for the semi-final clash between Afghanistan and South Africa in the T20 World Cup. The Brian Lara Cricket Academy had prepared the pitch just over a week before the match, and it played a significant role in Afghanistan's defeat as they recorded their lowest T20I total.
Ponting questioned the use of an untested pitch with unknown characteristics for such a crucial game. He stressed the importance of understanding how a pitch behaves, especially in high-pressure situations. The pitch not only favoured seam movement but also had unpredictable bounce, making it difficult for batsmen. Ponting criticised the uneven bounce, deeming it unfair to the players.
The conditions played into South Africa's hands, with their seamers like Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada taking advantage of the movement and bounce. Anrich Nortje caused significant problems for the Afghan batsmen with his varying deliveries.
Ponting referenced a previous match between West Indies and New Zealand where the teams had some knowledge of the pitch. He believed using an untested pitch in a semi-final was a risky move by the groundsman.
The pitch's characteristics were evident throughout the game, posing challenges for Afghanistan, even with Rashid Khan's leg breaks. South Africa's pace attack thrived in the conditions, securing their spot in the World Cup final.
Despite the tough conditions, Afghanistan's captain Rashid Khan stressed the team's need to adapt mentally. Ponting's criticism highlights the larger issue of pitch preparation in crucial games, raising concerns about fairness and the impact of pitch conditions on game outcomes.