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LAHORE, Jan 26: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), after being severely criticised by public and critics alike, for preparing flat pitches in the first two Test against India, hinted of a result-oriented pitch in the third Test to be played in Karachi from Sunday.
In the first Test in Lahore and second in Faisalabad, both of which ended in a predictable draw, records tumbled like nine pins by batsmen who held sway over all kind of bowlers on all playing days, triggering criticism against the pitches from all quarters.
“Regrettably due to weather conditions, the pitches turned out ‘low and slow’ tilting the balance totally in favour of batsmen, producing dull cricket and disappointing results.
However, it is hoped that in Karachi, where the sun shines frequently the pitch will turn out to be result-oriented and will strike a fair balance between bat and ball,” a PCB statement stated.
Though rainy and misty weather hit the first Test in Lahore, the sun shone in Faisalabad all five days.
The statement, defending the team management including captain and coach stated that it was the unanimous decision to prepare hard bouncy pitches for the India series as like of England series.
The PCB also defended the curators saying “No blame can be given to curators for not producing sporting result-oriented pitches”, it stated.
Some critics were of the view that the PCB high officials, coach and captain were defensive in the series and did not want to face defeat, so, such “dead” pitches were prepared.
The PCB spokesman said that the board would hold an international experts workshop after the series to chalk out measures to improve the sub-soil so that the pitches could produce the required bounce for a proper contest between bat and ball.
The PCB has already requested Turf Institute of New Zealand to send an expert after the conclusion of the current series, the spokesman said.
PPI ADDS: Former Pakistan captain and paceman Waqar Younis has urged Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials to make pitches fairer for bowlers in his country.
The first two Tests between Pakistan and India were dominated by the batsmen, with a total of 2,791 runs scored and only 36 wickets falling.
“It was disheartening to watch,” Waqar said in an interview for BBC. “It was not right for fast bowlers or spinners and not good for cricket. I’m not asking for a green top, I want a decent cricketing pitch.”
Having watched the series in his role as a television commentator, Waqar insisted that changes had to be made immediately to preserve interest in Test cricket in Pakistan.
“Pakistan-India is supposed to be one of best series in this part of the world but if they see these sort of pitches being prepared for Test matches I don’t think the crowd are going to turn up,” he said.
Waqar, who captured 373 wickets in 87 Tests between 1989 and 2003, revealed he was fully prepared to offer his services to groundstaff about preparation of future wickets.
“I have played cricket for a while and if I can give something back, if they can learn something from me, I would love that,” he said.
“I’m not really sure what sort of pitch they are going to prepare, there will be a little more pressure on as first two Tests have been drawn and there has been a lot of criticism.
I want to see maybe a bit of grass and a hard pitch where ball should carry.”
