Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has blasted the Pakistan Cricket Board for preparing turning pitches for the Test series against England. Akhtar called PCB’s approach as “selfish” and claimed that such an approach is not saving Test cricket.
The three-match Test series between Pakistan and England is currently level at 1-1. Both teams are currently fighting it out at Rawalpindi in the third and final match of the series. England won the first Test at Multan by an innings and 47 runs on a flat pitch which had almost nothing for the bowlers.
However, Pakistan prepared a turning track for the next game at the same venue. It worked in their favor as spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan picked up all the 20 wickets, leading Pakistan to an emphatic win. As a result, a similar pitch was prepared for the third Test as well.
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Shoaib Akhtar blasts PCB for preparing rank turners
While speaking on Test Match Special, Shoaib Akhtar slammed the officials working at the PCB for their wrong mindset to win matches.
“When you don’t put the right people in the right jobs and you put the wrong mindset on the wrong jobs, this is exactly what happens,” Akhtar said.
Rawalpindi is traditionally known to support the fast bowlers while the spinners do not enjoy a great record here. Over the years, the pitches have been flat here, especially since international cricket has returned to Pakistan.
Shoaib Akhtar is himself from Rawalpindi and the Pindi Cricket Stadium is his home ground. Through the above statement, Akhtar targeted the PCB top brass which also included the board chief Mohsin Naqvi.
“It happened two decades ago” – Shoaib Akhtar’s big revelation on pitches in Pakistan
The former Pakistan quick further added that this change did not happen suddenly and had begun two decades ago. He remembered the time when he complained to his captains about the flat batting wickets in the country.
“The division you’re seeing did not happen overnight. It happened two decades ago. I often complained to my captains: ‘Why are you making dead pitches?” Shoaib Akhtar revealed.
The legendary cricketer further mentioned that he would like to see sporting pitches in Pakistan rather than turning wickets. He also called the PCB’s approach as “selfish” and called for the board to save Test cricket by preparing competitive pitches in the country.
“What do we do from here? We either take a selfish approach, make a spinning track, to win games. Or we save the game (Test cricket). I would rather see us save the game,” he added.
Pakistan inch ahead in the third Test
Pakistan took a first-innings lead in the third Test at Rawalpindi after England posted 267 in the first innings. The Men in Green scored 344 in their first innings, thanks to a magnificent hundred from the vice-captain Saud Shakeel.
England were 24-3 at stumps on Day 2. They are still 53 runs behind and will need a miracle from Joe Root and Harry Brook to get back into the game. The story has been the same for Pakistan in this match too with Sajid Khan and Noman Ali bowling the bulk of the overs and picking up most of the wickets.
