Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has accepted that the pitch used in Rawalpindi for the opening match against Australia was not a good time advertisement for Test cricket.
The former captain and commentator also described the reasoning behind the PCB rolling out a slow pitch for the much-awaited opener of Australia’s historic journey to the Asian country.
Raja also adds that the PCB will be broadcasting pitches across the country following the peak of the current season, somewhat they couldn’t do earlier as he only supposed office mid-season. He was appointed Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB) chief in September 2021.
Raja said that while he realized the sentiments of cricket fans, he affirmed that a slow pitch in Rawalpindi resulted from the home side being without their 2-seamers, Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf unsophisticated opening pair with the bat, and the absence of leg-spinner Yasir Shah.
In a video released on PCB’s Twitter handle, Raja said:
“A drawn Test match like the one in Rawalpindi is never a good advertisement for Test cricket. When I assumed the position of PCB chairman, there was a lot of talk in the media regarding my comments on the need to redo the pitches in Pakistan massively. But when I came in September, the season had already started, and one normally needs 5-6 months to prepare a pitch. After the culmination of the current season, we will be relying on close on 60 pitches in the country with the help of specially imported soil from Australia and our self-indigenous soil, which we have prepared in consultation with soil experts.”
Earlier, Australian captain Pat Cummins claimed Pakistan had disposed of a slow pitch to repeal their pace attack. Raja more or less accepted the same, saying, “we can’t go and sit in Australia’s lap by getting ready fast, bouncy pitches.”
“While I do understand the disappointment of fans, we need to keep in mind that it’s a three-match series. There is a lot of cricket still to be played, and just for the heck of it, we cannot go and sit in Australia’s lap by preparing a fast, bouncy pitch.
“It’s important to play to our strength. The lack of resources handicapped us because our opening ball pair got disturbed following injuries to Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf. Plus, we had a brand new opening pair, and Abdullah Shafique’s form was problematic, and Imam-ul-Haq was making a comeback. So, when your batting and bowling pair is disturbed and raw, you take your chances accordingly. Plus, we did not have a ready-made leg-spinner as Yasir Shah is unfit. We had an under-cooked 15, and Australia, don’t forget, is a powerhouse and is coming off an Ashes win. We respect their talent and given our strength, and we couldn’t afford to go into experimental mode,” he added.
PCB Chairman reflects on the Rawalpindi Test and reiterates his plans on pitches for domestic and international matches in the country#PAKvAUS l #BoysReadyHain pic.twitter.com/OuD7wDvJw1
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 9, 2022
The first Test match of the much-awaited series proved to be a complete anti-climax as just 14 wickets fell across 5th days at the cost of 1187 runs.
‘Don’t jump the gun, and there is still a lot of cricket remain’- Ramiz Raja.
Pakistan’s opening pair of Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq and former captain Azhar Ali feasted slow pitch. The duo racked up successive 100+ stands, including an unbeaten 252-run association in the 3rd innings.
Raja said this was a huge confidence booster for the home side. He also hailed Nauman Ali for claiming 6-wickets on a dead surface.
” …I believe that Pakistan has gained a not of confidence from their performance. Batting has shone while a spinner (Nauman Ali) has taken six wickets. Fans need to understand that while we will try our best to make result-oriented pitches, it’s not easy to change the nature of the surfaces just like that,” he said.
Raja signed off by stating that Pakistan will get ready tracks that will give them the best likely chance to beat Australia. He further encouraged fans and pundits not to “jump the gun” as there is still a lot of cricket to be performed in this series.
“We have to prepare the pitches, keeping in mind our reverse-swing, spin a bounce. I will reiterate that it wasn’t a great advertisement for Test cricket, but there is still a lot left in the series. So, don’t jump the gun. There is still a lot of cricket remaining,” signed off Raja.
I find it amusing when Test matches get over inside 4 days yet teams lose WTC points for overrate. The biggest threat to test cricket is not overrate. Tests rarely go to day 5 anyway nowadays. The biggest threat to test cricket are dead pitches. Dead pitch = Dead game. #PAKvAUS
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 7, 2022
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