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The criticism of pitch condition in Rawalpindi headlined throughout the entire five days of the first Test between Pakistan and Australia last week. The Test ended in a dull draw with only 14 wickets falling in the entire game, and many former Pakistan cricketers including ex-captains Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, and Salman Butt criticising the surface throughout the game.
Many hoped for the surface to improve in the second Test in Karachi, but the action on Day 1 saw a slow and low surface at the National Stadium as Australia ended the play at 251/3 in 90 overs. Former Pakistan captain Butt, once again expressing his disappointment at the surface, said that some assistance to fast bowlers must have been provided.
“If I have Shaheen, Hasan, Naseem Shah, I will provide something in the pitch for them. I don’t have Yasir Shah so I cannot play the leg-spinner and when I say this, I’m also saying that we don’t have spinners on whom we can rely to win matches. I can’t prepare a track that assists spin. So, give something to fast bowlers instead,” Butt said on his official YouTube channel.
Butt, further recalling his playing days, said that he doesn’t remember such slow surfaces in Pakistan. The former Pakistan skipper also cited examples of India’s tour of Pakistan in 2006.
“I don’t remember such slow and low pitches during my playing days. It isn’t as if we didn’t play draw Tests. But in Karachi, Irfan Pathan had taken a hat-trick, it was very lively, brilliant seaming pitch. India won in Rawalpindi, again, a very seaming pitch,” Butt recalled.
“The point is, we used to play cricket at a good pace at that time. We never saw such low and slow wickets in Pakistan. And such pitches are coming at a time when everyone wants pace and bounce, aggression from fast bowlers. People keep talking about 140 kph fast bowlers and batters who can hit at 140 strike rate day and night. Ironically, both aren’t happening at the moment. And in this condition, it isn’t possible,” Butt further added.
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