Shahid Afridi criticizes the pitch conditions in the Rawalpindi Test. The pitch was dubbed a “bad advertisement” for Test cricket by the cricketing community.
The first Test between Pakistan and Australia ended in a dull draw, with only 14 wickets falling over five days of play at the Rawalpindi Stadium. The match drew a lot of attention because it was Team Australia’s first assignment on Pakistani soil this century. Fans and experts, on the other hand, were not amused by the performance, as bowlers received little assistance from the surface.
On Day 5 of the game, Pakistan openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq slammed unbeaten half-centuries. This demonstrates how good the batting surface was. Overall, the cricket community dubbed the pitch a “bad advertisement” for Test cricket. Meanwhile, former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has become the latest to weigh in on the contentious issue. He believes the hosts prioritize avoiding defeat and, as a result, prepared such a run-filled surface.
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Shahid Afridi: Pakistan have to make good pitch for next two Tests
“They didn’t consider Australia; their bottom line was ‘we shouldn’t lose.'” However, they must make good pitches in the next two Tests in Lahore and Karachi. “You have to take advantage of your home series or else you’ll struggle in Australia,” Afridi said on Samaa TV.
The former Pakistan captain went on to criticize Babar Azam and the team’s defensive strategy. He also warned that if the hosts continue to field the seven batters, four bowlers combination, the fast bowlers may sustain injuries.
“Our bowling prowess is unrivaled. Our fast bowlers will be able to finish off this Australian team. And it’s not like our batters can’t handle the Aussie bowlers. Cricket has grown over the years, and it is time for us to do the same. “You have to stay positive if you want to be counted among the likes of South Africa, England, Australia, and New Zealand,” said Afridi.
“I’ve been playing for long and I know it is there since the start (the combination of seven batters and four bowlers). Six genuine batsmen are enough in any team, then you have an all-rounder and bowlers. But we always play with this combination (7-4). This isn’t going to work. Our batsmen are in form. If you are making pitches like these, you will have to play bowlers or else these fast bowlers will be at the risk of injuries,” he further added.
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