Former cricketer Basit Ali lashed out at Pakistan’s pitch curator Tony Hemming by stating that the Australian does not know the meaning of ‘preparing for a pitch’ ahead of the second Test match that will be played in Multan. In the first match of Pakistan’s series against England, the team was outclassed by the batting prowess of the guests. Multan was tormented by the heat, and the Pakistan team suffered an embarrassing defeat for the first time in their history, losing by an innings and 47 runs on a pitch that didn’t seem intimidating.
Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects with respect to the pitch was the fact that it did not favor spinners. Shoaib Bashir of England took only one wicket in two innings. The seasoned Jack Leach was able to do the job with the help of his skills and not because of any assistance given by the pitch.
Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed bowled a total of 35 overs, conceded 174 runs at 4.97 economy rate and went wicketless before being taken ill and hospitalized after the game. Saim Ayub and Samlan Ali Agha were successful but they gave away a lot of runs.
Regardless of the pitch curator’s level of experience which should be deep, Basit asserted that Hemming does not comprehend the concept of pitch preparation. The 53-year-old man used India as a case study because of the right way in which they prepare the pitches according to theirs.
“We thought in the first Test match that the ball would spin on the second day. But it did not even on the fifth day. The curator is from Australia and he has worked with ICC before. But he cannot make one,” Basit lamented on his YouTube Channel.
“Now it will be a matter of two teams playing on the same surface hoping the ball will turn. What’s the use of hiring a curator who does not know how to prepare a cricket pitch? This is also a very critical question. The entire world is laughing at us. And look at India. The pitch is made the way they desire,’” he further added.
Considering that Pakistan has announced a spinner-dominant playing XI, the pitch is likely to assist the spin bowlers in the second Test.
Pakistan (Playing XI): Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (capt), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mehmood.
England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith, Brydon Carse, Matt Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir
