Picture Credit: Twitter
The Pakistan - Englan Test series has seen over 1000 runs in the first three days of play and hence the Pakistan Cricket Board has received a lot of criticism for the pitch at the Rawalpindi Stadium. Adding to this scrutiny, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has also slammed the playing conditions in Pindi.
While talking on Samaa TV, Afridi stated that fast bowler Naseem Shah could also score ‘ 70-80 runs’ with ease on a pitch like this. He also talked about how preparing surfaces like these will not help Pakistan compete against better teams and win the ICC World Test Championship.
Afridi said, “Hamko agar final me jaana hai, badi badi teams ko haraana hai, toh hamein bowlers ko confidence dena padega. Ham shell pe chale jaate hain ki kahi batsman naa out ho jaayein. Come on, thoda positive sochna padega. Hamaari batting achhi hai, achhi seaming pitches khilao. Inn pitches pe Naseem Shah bhi 70-80 run kar dega.”
(Translation: If we have to play in the WTC final, beat big teams, we have to give bowlers confidence. We just can't live in fear that our batsmen will get out early. We have to get our batsmen to play on seaming pitches. On such pitches (like Rawalpindi), even Naseem Shah can score 70-80 runs).
The Player of the Match of the 2009 T20 World Cup final also spoke on how matches like these eventually become boring as there is no competition between the bat and bowl. He said, “You don't enjoy such matches. Ek stage pe toh mera dil nahi chaa raha tha match dekhne ka. Bohot hi boring ho gaya tha, bowlers ke liye kuch hai hi nahi. Batsmen bhi agar maar diye toh maar diye. Maza nahi aaya. Allah kare ki result aaye, inki bowling lineup bhi aisi hai ki shayad Pakistan ko do baar out naa kar paayein, Afridi said on Samaa TV.”
(Translation: At one stage, I didn't feel like watching the game. It became boring, there's nothing for the bowlers. Hope there's a result, because I don't think England can bowl Pakistan out twice.)