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Pakistan Cricket Team (Source - Twitter)
In the first match of the three-match Test series between England and Pakistan, the Rawalpindi pitch saw England racking up a world record 506 runs on the opening day of the Test. Four England players scored centuries on the opening day of the match for the first time in history, after tons by Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook.
The pitch in Rawalpindi received a lot of criticism during the match. The surface at Rawalpindi is hardly assisting any bowlers, there is no help in movements for pacers and nothing for the spinners too. Many former cricketers have criticized the pitch as being too batting-friendly.
Former Pakistan bowler Aaqib Javed also talked about the pitch condition in Rawalpindi. Javed said that such a pitch wouldn’t have been made had Pakistan taken the field with a bowler captain.
“Inko Australia ke Test series ke baad nahi ahsaas hua tha ki England ko aana hai? New Zealand ko aana hai? Hamaara pitch ka kya plan hai? Hamse nahi banti toh kis se banti hai? Sri Lanka me turning pitches banti hai, vahaan se banda le aaiye. (Didn't they realize this after the Test series against Australia that England and New Zealand are also scheduled to tour? What is our plan when it comes to pitches? If we can't make the pitches, who can? Sri Lanka make turning pitches, you can call people from there),” Javed said on GEO SUPER.
Mai dekhta hu aisi dead pitch banti hai kya: Aaqib Javed
Javed said that there is enough clay on the Rawalpindi’s pitch, it just needs to be prepared. He also said if Pakistan had a bowler captain we wouldn’t have seen this pitch, no bowler would like to play on such flat pitches.
"Jab tak aap iska ek institute nahi banaayenge, curator ko pata nahi hoga ki pitch banti kaise hain... hamne khud dekha hai ki Pindi ki pitch pe bounce hota hai. Ham toh khele bhi hai. Clay content bohot hai hamaari mitti me. England se zyada hai. Preparation ki baat hai. (You have to make an institute. We have seen bounce on Rawalpindi pitches, we have played there. There's enough clay content on this pitch, it's all about the preparation).
“Aap banao bowler ko kaptaan, fir main dekhta hu aisi dead pitch banti hai kya. Nahi banegi. Bowler apni kamar tudvaane ke liye aisi pitch nahi banvaayega. (You make a bowler captain, then I'll see if such pitches are made or not. No bowler would want such pitches),” Javed further said.