LSG’s Zaheer Khan Accuses Lucknow Curator Of Preparing Pitches For Oppositions

The Ekana curator was criticized by LSG coach Zaheer Khan, who also held him accountable for his team's loss to the Punjab Kings in Lucknow. Speaking about the IPL teams' home advantage, Zaheer expressed his belief that his team was denied it.

To date, the IPL 2025 home advantage has been a major topic of discussion, with numerous teams lamenting that they do not benefit from it when playing at home. Zaheer Khan has also been added to this list by his remarks.

Zaheer was prepared to acknowledge that his squad didn't play well that day, even though he attributed the defeat to not obtaining the necessary home advantage. In order to start a comeback, Zaheer urges LSG to concentrate on the next games.

Ekana Stadium curator blamed by Zaheer Khan for LSG’s loss to PBKS

During the press conference held after the game, Zaheer Khan attributed Tuesday's loss to the pitch curator in Lucknow. The former India player swore at the curator and stated that he had no intention of having LSG play at home.

"Considering it's a home game and in IPL, you've seen how teams have looked at taking a little bit of home advantage, from that point of view, you've seen the curator is not really thinking that it's a home game. I think maybe it looked like, you know, it was Punjab curator out here," Zaheer Khan said in a post-match press conference.

Zaheer explodes after the game

Zaheer Khan also expressed his desire that this match would be the final one in which the home team would not have a favorable pitch. He believes that the home crowd, who supported their team the entire evening, will likewise be disappointed with such a pitch.

"So that's something which we will figure out. It's a new set-up for me, but I hope that this is the first and the last game when it comes to that. Because you are disappointing the Lucknow fans as well. They've come up with so many expectations of winning the first home game here," he added.

This reminded fans of the recent incident between KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane, who had made similar pleas for the Eden Gardens curator to prepare pitches to aid the home side. However, the Kolkata curator refused to do so and faced immense backlash for his statement.

Zaheer Khan admits LSG played poorly

Zaheer Khan acknowledged that LSG didn't play well enough to merit a victory, but he still blamed the pitch curator. He wants his side to have the mentality necessary to win the game, though, and is convinced they will mount a comeback.

"As a team, we are confident. We accept that we've lost the game, and we have to do whatever it takes to make that impact in the home leg. We still have six more games to go here, and this team has shown in the season so far, whatever little cricket is played, that we have the right outlook and the mindset to look at the IPL," he concluded.

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