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Xtra Time Web Desk: Senior officials Chris Tetley and Claire Furlong have resigned from their respective positions at the International Cricket Council following the controversy surrounding the New York pitch in the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024. Both officials played pivotal roles in organizing the tournament, held in the West Indies and the USA. Chris Tetley served as the ICC's Head of Events, while Claire Furlong was the General Manager of Marketing and Communications. Their resignations were announced on Friday, July 12.

Resignations ahead of ICC annual conference: 

The resignations come just a week before the ICC's annual conference, set to take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from July 19 to 22. According to sources cited by Cricbuzz, Tetley and Furlong had initially planned to step down at the end of the last commercial cycle but extended their tenure to oversee the T20 World Cup. Although they officially resigned some time ago, they will remain with the ICC for the next few months to ensure a smooth transition during a busy event cycle. Both officials will also attend the Annual Conference Meeting in Colombo.

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Controversy over new york pitches: 

The organization of the T20 World Cup in New York was a significant project for the ICC, part of its efforts to expand cricket in the USA. However, the drop-in pitches at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium faced severe criticism for their inconsistent bounce and excessive seam movement, which made it challenging for teams to post high scores. As a result, all matches in New York were low-scoring, contrary to the high-scoring, boundary-filled games typically expected in T20 cricket.

The highest score recorded in New York was 137-7 by Canada against Ireland, and even marquee matches like India vs. Pakistan saw low totals, with India defending 119 to win by six runs. Despite the low scores, the matches were closely contested, providing nail-biting finishes. The pitches, however, drew criticism from former cricketers and experts, although the eventual champions, India, did not complain, noting that both teams had to play on the same surface.

Future implications and upcoming conference discussions:

The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, a modular structure built by T20 World Cup Inc in record time, was dismantled immediately after the games. The pitch issues are expected to be a major topic at the upcoming ICC conference in Colombo, with several members likely to raise concerns about the suitability of the New York pitches for future international events. An important board member is also reported to have written to other members, urging them to address the pitch conditions during the conference.

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The resignations of Tetley and Furlong, amid this controversy, add another layer of complexity to the ICC's efforts to promote cricket in new markets. Their departure marks the end of a significant chapter in the ICC's recent history, and their roles in future cricket events will be closely watched.