England fast bowler Sam Curran expressed his strong criticism of the outfield conditions at Dharamsala's Himachal Pradesh Cricket Academy Stadium during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
It's worth noting that numerous players and coaching staff from various teams have openly criticized the ground's poor condition through interviews and social media. England's captain, Jos Buttler, particularly voiced his concern about the quality of the outfield before their match against Bangladesh, describing it as poor.
He emphasized how such conditions force players to be cautious while diving or fielding, which contradicts the team's desire to give their best. In an interview, England pacer Sam Curran shared his relief that both teams managed to get through the Bangladesh fixture without any injuries, given the challenging conditions they faced. He didn't mince words when he referred to the conditions as "pretty bad."
His teammate, Reece Topley, also commented on the outfield, describing how it made their legs feel heavier than usual. He had to adjust his run-up because he couldn't gain the usual distance in each stride.
However, he added that they accepted the unique challenge and followed their captain's advice to "get on with it." Even veteran Bangladesh cricketer Taskin Ahmed expressed his displeasure with the conditions in Dharamsala.
He mentioned that the outfield was soft and running was challenging due to the off-balance feeling and slipping during the run-up. Taskin Ahmed emphasized that despite the unfavorable conditions, they couldn't use it as an excuse and should have adjusted better.
It's important to note that Dharamsala is scheduled to host three more matches in the tournament, including games between the Netherlands and South Africa, India and New Zealand, and a match between Australia and New Zealand.