According to a report in the Indian Express, the Indian team management asked the BCCI curators to prepare a slow wicket for the India vs New Zealand semifinal in the Cricket World Cup.
A source told the Indian Express, 'It won’t be a turner but the team had asked for a slow pitch. It was the main reason we shaved off the grass.'
Skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid inspected the pitch and the think tank informed the Wankhede curator about their preference after the game against the Netherlands in Bengaluru.
The BCCI local curators have formed a local organising group to look after pitches across the country during the World Cup. The International Cricket Council (ICC) also sent its own experts to various venues for each game.
Interestingly, even before the World Cup, the team management had requested for their matches to be held on slow pitches.