India embroiled in World Cup row over controversial pitch swap

India were embroiled in a World Cup pitch row as they powered into the final, beating New Zealand on a surface in Mumbai that was swapped at the last minute.

The semi-final was due to be played on a fresh pitch but on Monday it was shifted to one used twice previously to spark accusations of home bias.

The local ground authorities are in charge of pitch preparation and selection, with oversight from the International Cricket Council.

The ICC released a statement saying pitch swaps have happened throughout the tournament and was done with their knowledge but it happening so close to a semi-final fed the theory everything is being done to engineer a win for the home side.

“It is a bit of a sour taste,” said former England captain and Telegraph Sport columnist Michael Vaughan. “I don’t believe we should be using used pitches for World Cup semi-finals. India are too good a team to have to worry about having to play on a used pitch.

“Let’s not beat around the truth … the ICC want India in the final. They probably would’ve beaten New Zealand on any pitch because they’re that good and so much better than most of the other teams in the tournament. But the rest of the world will be like ‘really?’ Don’t make it so obvious.”

India great Sunil Gavaskar hit back at critics of the pitch decision, labelling them “morons.”

He said: “All the morons who were talking about the pitch change. Just stop. Stop taking potshots at Indian cricket. People have said a lot of things to attract eyeballs or whatever. It is all nonsense.

“The pitch was there and even if it was changed, it was there before the toss for both the teams. It was not changed in the middle of the innings. It was not changed after the toss was done. If you are a good enough team, you play on that pitch and you win. India has done that. So stop talking about pitches.”

The pitch played well and produced more than 720 runs in a stunning game of cricket won by India’s all-conquering team that has now recorded 10 victories out of 10 at the World Cup. All eyes will now be on the surface prepared for Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad.

The Daily Mail quoted an email sent by Andy Atkinson, the ICC’s pitch consultant, to his bosses concerned about moves to change Sunday’s pitch from the one originally earmarked for the final.

It read: “As a result of these actions, one must speculate if this will be the first ever ICC CWC [cricket World Cup] final to have a pitch which has been specifically chosen and prepared to their stipulation at the request of the team management and/or the hierarchy of the home nation board. Or will it be selected or prepared without favouritism for either of the sides competing in the match in the usual manner, and unquestionably because it is the usual pitch for the occasion?”

The ICC released a statement during the India-New Zealand semi-final saying pitch changes are normal. Both semi-finals at last year’s WTwenty20 World Cup were played on used pitches, although it is less relevant in 20 overs.

“Changes to planned pitch rotations are common towards the end of an event of this length, and has already happened a couple of times,” it said.

“This change was made on the recommendation of the venue curator in conjunction with our host. The ICC independent pitch consultant was apprised of the change and has no reason to believe the pitch won’t play well.”