World T20: ICC identifies fresh pitch for final at Eden Gardens

New Delhi: The ICC World Twenty20 final at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, is likely to be played on a fresh pitch that has not yet been used in this tournament so far.

According to a report in the Times of India, the chief of ICC's grounds and pitches committee Andy Atkinson, who had arrived in Kolkata on Monday, has asked the curator to select a fresh pitch - strip No. 7 for Sunday's epic finale.

Reports say that, the Eden pitch used in the game between India and Pakistan, that saw extreme spin and hostility alongside the Nagpur track that has been criticised of late, are not suitable for WT20 matches under the ICC book.

Atkinson arrived on Monday and took a call on a new strip despite Cricket Association of Bengal's chief curator Sujan Mukherjee had selected the pitch used in the Pakistan-Bangladesh group league match. That pitch produced a run-feast and was the choice by CAB, but now there will be a fresh track for the game.

An ICC source said that Atkinson went to Eden Gardens as BCCI chief curator Daljit Singh was sent to Mumbai to oversee the preparation of the track at the Wankhede. The venue holds the India vs West Indies semi-final clash on Thursday.

Further reports claim that, Atkinson has given groundstaff the guidelines in writing, effectively taking over the task of preparing the pitch at Eden Gardens for the final. He has also briefed Mukherjee about how to go about their job.

Meanwhile, as the rolling and watering of the strip identified by Atkinson has already started, the new track will have to be cleared by the broadcasters as it would involve moving the camera and other equipment a few yards in such a manner that it doesn't block the view of spectators.