The pitch and outfield conditions at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Long Island, New York have come under heavy scrutiny from cricket experts and players alike, as concerns mount over its suitability for T20 cricket.

The pitch offers significant assistance to the bowlers in an otherwise batter dominant format that T20 cricket had been for a while.

Critics argue that the pitch, which played host to the recent Sri Lanka vs South Africa match is not ideal for T20 cricket. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan called it “not an ideal pitch for T20 cricket”. Commentator and presenter Harsha Bhogle said “not sure this is the best introduction to cricket in a new land”.

Unlike the flat wickets seen in recent T20 games that have produced scores exceeding 200, the New York pitch demands technique and patience from batters. The outfield is described to be very slow and sandy while the pitch has some bounce to it. Hitting boundaries in the ground will be a task hence, the batters will have to rely heavily on strike rotation.

Indian Coach Rahul Dravid said “New York ground outfield is spongy and soft, which could lead to hamstring or calf injuries for players”.

Former Pakistani captain Wasim Akram stated that 140-150 will be a defendable score on this pitch.

Some view this to be rather refreshing in T20 cricket where conditions have increasingly favoured batters. This sentiment has echoed among those who believe there should be a more balanced contest between bat and ball.

The New York Stadium will be in the spotlight again on June 9, 2024, when it hosts the high-stakes clash between India and Pakistan.