Pakistani pitches are an absolute disgrace

[ethan hunt]

Switched on to watch the start of the game and immediately put off by the absolute dead nature of the wicket, irrespective of the result this is terrible viewing and extremely discouraging for the new ball bowlers. Very dissapointed with Babar.

[shah_1]

Bunch of cowards

We defeated South Africa in Pindi on a green pitch. Bhai darna kiya, leave some grass on the pitch

[Officer Barbrady]

It is very disappointing. I watched bits of the recent first class games in Pindi which clearly had more pace and carry and spinners had success as well. So this is a deliberate move to produce a road and I guess ensure we don’t lose the test match?

Such defensive strategies usually backfire but we don’t learn.

Also what’s the point of playing 3 genuine pace bowlers on this track? Feel for them

[Marooned]

Kills any interest in this test series.

Rambo the coward prepares these highways and then is stupid enough to explain why they made such surfaces. What a clown.

[Marooned]

It is very disappointing. I watched bits of the recent first class games in Pindi which clearly had more pace and carry and spinners had success as well. So this is a deliberate move to produce a road and I guess ensure we don’t lose the test match?

Such defensive strategies usually backfire but we don’t learn.

Also what’s the point of playing 3 genuine pace bowlers on this track? Feel for them

Exactly. These tactics won't even ensure a draw.

If we lose the toss, which is what happened here, the batting will crumble under scoreboard pressure of 550 odd.

[U$ofA]

I hope PCB does not base the future selections of these new bowlers based on their performance in this test. Or for that matter any future tests with pitches of this nature.

Sure fire way to kill a young bowlers confidence level.

[ChTab]

Test matches in UAE were far more exciting than these stupid matches.

[iRfaN_LA]

Dead pitch and dead match. Have fun watching Ramiz raja.

[ethan hunt]

I honestly wouldnt mind losing on a pitch that has something for the seamers. I want to watch Naseem Shah bowl not waste my time watching cowards like Babar azam and azhar ali stat pad.
Need a bowling captain honestly.

[Hectic]

Ramiz Raja is more interested in generating a full 5 day revenue than actually winning matches. This is a total clown show.

[RedwoodOriginal]

This absolutely pathetic. How can you allow this to happen? Especially when your WTC Final chances rest on wins.

#SackRamizRaja

[umerz]

Ramiz Raja is more interested in generating a full 5 day revenue than actually winning matches. This is a total clown show.

NOt sure if Ramiz RAja has ordered such pitches. Do Babar and Saqlain have any say in making of these roads

[ssuhaide]

The only way pitch mentality will change is if Pakistan continue to get destroyed at home by foreign opposition. A good 3-0 spanking should help.

[Marooned]

NOt sure if Ramiz RAja has ordered such pitches. Do Babar and Saqlain have any say in making of these roads

It's clearly ordered by Rambo.

Ramiz categorically confirmed during the Aus series that they made those highway hells to blunt Aussies pacers.

[Amjid Javed]

Knew this would happen dead highway produced, pakistan pick just 4 bowlers and come 2nd and 3rd tests they will revert back to picking bits and pieces bowlers and 5 batsmen.

Coward and clueless mentality.

[Hitman]

Interesting some Pakistani posters were making fun of Indian pitches just yesterday.

[TeamPak95]

With all that macho man energy Rameez exudes there’s even more dhar phok energy. Pathetic.

[GreenBee]

Pakistani bowlers are as terrible in away tours too. Let's see what England bowlers can do here.

[ethan hunt]

Man the pitch at pindi just a few days ago in the first class game was completely diff looking with so much help for the bowlers.
How is this allowed to happen. Babar, Ramiz, Saqlain, Moyo. All cowards.

[Colorblind Genius]

Had Pakistan batted first with this sight of the scoreboard, we would all be jumping on the bandwagon in praise of Imam ul Haq and Abdullah Shafiq and whatnot.

This Zahid Mehmood guy is not worth of galli mohhalla class cricket, lets see what does he do here. I will be pleasantly surprised to see him having any valuable role.

[ethan hunt]

Pakistani bowlers are as terrible in away tours too. Let's see what England bowlers can do here.

Bowling, batting is a different debate, we are discussing the nature of the pitch Mr 170-0

[GreenBee]

Bowling, batting is a different debate, we are discussing the nature of the pitch Mr 170-0

As a Test specialist fan, I would like to add that nature of pitch often is made to look different by different class of bowlers. This is slightly worse than what Pakistani Test attack usually does, but that can happen. Nature of pitch usually reveals more after both sides have bowled, so I would wait fo rit.

[Savak]

The 2005 pitches were no better. Pakistan had Shoaib Akhtar and Danish Kaneria. Quality world class bowlers can get the job done on any wicket.

[MP2011]

More than the pitch, its Pakistan bowling which is disgrace!

Whatever the pitch, hardly anyone scores 150+ in the first session of a test match and that too in an away test!

[SpiritOf1903]

Test cricket will be dead if it isn't already in Pakistan very soon

[Shafi]

I hope PCB does not base the future selections of these new bowlers based on their performance in this test. Or for that matter any future tests with pitches of this nature.

Sure fire way to kill a young bowlers confidence level.

This guy is rubbish!!! He will be failure in green pitches as well.

[Kriketer]

Interesting some Pakistani posters were making fun of Indian pitches just yesterday.

Which is the case preparing dust bowls and pitches which crack from 2nd day in India are equally bad, okay this road is probably worse but still unsporting pitches of any form shouldn't be supported. Subcontinent in general likes preparing batting friendly phattas or slow low too spinner friendly wickets, both are bad.

[adzzy786]

The issue is they can’t prepare better pitches because it takes 2-3 years to prepare one. You can’t except them to just change them over night

[zaidihusain]

Not even a single maiden over bowled so far after 25 overs and all 5 bowlers have ER of more than 6. PCB is badly shaming test cricket.

[Titan24]

Not sure how difficult it must be to leave a little grass on the wicket to atleast provide something initially. Rawalpindi's pitch in QAE 2022 was possibly the best in terms of the contest between the bat and ball, not sure why they though it was good idea to change it.

[Savak]

Good captains and team managements can take the pitch out of the equation and still achieve results.

Watch India's Bharat Arun inspired off middle stump tactics against Australia with a packed leg side field. The Indian bowlers kept on ruthlessly bowling maidens after maidens and gave nothing at all to the Australia batsmen and they successfully frustrated them into mistakes.

Such an approach was even more vital on this pitch but no, you offer Babar a million dollars and he would still remain clueless on what to do.

[sam_ahm]

Cricket in any format is interesting to watch when there is a contest between bat and ball.

Matches on dead wickets are not good for the broadcasters as well, you simply switch off and only check the score once every hour, so what's the point?

[Nikhil_cric]

Interesting some Pakistani posters were making fun of Indian pitches just yesterday.

It's always the norm. India produces more result oriented pitches and they are not dangerous for batters either egen though the pitches have decent pace and bounce as well. Not sure why PAK posters think their pitches can even be compared to Indian ones

[Rana]

Well, Babar should score a double hundred if not more on this

Winner winner chicken dinner

[cricketjoshila]

Good captains and team managements can take the pitch out of the equation and still achieve results.

Watch India's Bharat Arun inspired off middle stump tactics against Australia with a packed leg side field. The Indian bowlers kept on ruthlessly bowling maidens after maidens and gave nothing at all to the Australia batsmen and they successfully frustrated them into mistakes.

Such an approach was even more vital on this pitch but no, you offer Babar a million dollars and he would still remain clueless on what to do.

That worked because Aussie wickets have bounce.

[cricketjoshila]

A test match finishing in 3 days is more interesting than watching Crawley and Duckett score at over 6 rpo against Naseem and Rauf.

[Ahmed216]

How difficult is it to under water these pitches and play spinners and aid our reverse swing.? Especially against a side like England

[Zaz]

Its an absolute disgrace Rambos killing test cricket and our bowlers

Look at it, no bounce and no pace Its a Road

[Aseem_04]

Pakistan lucky they haven't played india since this decade else india would have beaten them black and blue.

[cricketjoshila]

Ok. I will update my view, there is slight turn.

[Abdullah]

This pitch was setup for bazball ��*♂️

[hamzie]

so pathetic
cricket is not ready to return to pak for more than 1 reason now

[IAJ]

Well, let's wait til Pakistan bat here, all of the sudden it will be a good Test wicket when we are 56/5 at lunch.

[We Bleed Green]

This is the kind of pitch where fast bowlers careers and bodies are buried. These kind of pitches should be banned in Test Cricket

[Sunny_majoka]

Never seen a pitch like this in a test match before

[in_cutter]

Embarassing

On top of that they select garbage like Mohammed Ali & Zahid Mahmood. Bad pitch, bad bowlers was bound to be a disaster!

[Omer2002]

I cant understand why cant we prepare cracked spinning wickets even if test finishes in 4 days.....

[Concerned]

I think it was a excellent decision to have England batting first.

They have taken initiative and taken Pakistan to the cleaners. At the rate, they need to bat 2 days and it will be game.

Had Pakistan batted first, they would have been batting for the overs and not runs.

[bones]

Never seen a pitch like this in a test match before

You haven't been watching Pakistan long enough. Pakistan are the kings of serving up roads.

[Markhor]

Pakistan is the worst venue for international cricket because of the pitches. To think Ramiz Raja made such hue and cry over improving pitches upon his appointment as Chairman.

[ElRaja]

Pakistan is the worst venue for international cricket because of the pitches. To think Ramiz Raja made such hue and cry over improving pitches upon his appointment as Chairman.

they made good pitches for the south afirca series, then totally ditched them for these roads. also lets not go into the fact that guys like babar, riz, naseem, zahid, etc are all going into this test not having played a long format game in nearly 5 months.

rambo only pays lips service to test cricket, scheduling, pitches, lack of a-tours shows he only cares abt leagues and t20s.

[Nikhil_cric]

Never seen a pitch like this in a test match before

Last year at Rawalpindi. Pakistan scored 728 runs for the loss of 4 wickets . Not at this rate though.

[Msd_7]

500 runs on day1, is it a new test record

[IMMY69]

I take it back.
It's not Franchise Cricket that's killing test cricket...
It's the PCB

[BunnyRabbit]

Ramiz should upload a video during pitch preparation like he uploads dressing room videos too.

Clown. Haven't seen a more chicken chairman than him.

In addition, the team selection especially 7-11 is bereft of any logic and sense. If bowling average of 45 in the recent FC tournament is enough for getting picked, then the value of test cap is extremely low.

[Rajdeep]

This test match bringing the memory back of Sehwag days and how he used to treat Pakistani bowlers in these pitches. Getting Multan 2004 vibe from this test match.

[hass]

If this is what the PCB and the Pakistan team wanted, test cricket needs to die in this country. Thoroughly unacceptable. They have a duty not only to the team but to the sport as a whole. Two historic series and the cricket and conditions have been diabolical. How can we aim to grow interest in test cricket at all with this? Nobody wants to watch matches on utterly dead pitches like this. Give the bowlers something!

[Ashmal]

Well, let's wait til Pakistan bat here, all of the sudden it will be a good Test wicket when we are 56/5 at lunch.

It might happen but it won't make the pitch better.

Batting after fielding for 2 days with a deficit of 600 runs.....it becomes a different game.

[Energy]

I think there's high chance Pakistan gets bowled out twice on this wicket. And also play at 2.5 rpo.

[AAli98]

This test match bringing the memory back of Sehwag days and how he used to treat Pakistani bowlers in these pitches. Getting Multan 2004 vibe from this test match.

True I prefer the pitches where Laxman Dravids stumps use to go cartwheeling by Asif/akhtar.

[Minnowbasher]

Can't wait for Azhar Ali to come out and play a 50 of 300 type innings and be hailed as the next coming of Rahul Dravid the wall.

Watch us bat like timid cats at 1.9 rpo and get bowled out for 250 in 130 overs whilst England are about to score 700 in the same number of overs.

[cricketjoshila]

What is happening here? Will they score 500 or what

[RexRex]

Pakistan has a boring cricket culture I am sorry to say. I can't remember a single exciting test match played on Pakistani shores ever whereas I can list numerous thriller games in other countries.

These pitches are atrocious and smacks of cowardice from the PCB.

[Markhor]

they made good pitches for the south afirca series, then totally ditched them for these roads. also lets not go into the fact that guys like babar, riz, naseem, zahid, etc are all going into this test not having played a long format game in nearly 5 months.

rambo only pays lips service to test cricket, scheduling, pitches, lack of a-tours shows he only cares abt leagues and t20s.

I'm starting to think that SAF series was an anomaly. SAF also bat like tailenders in Asia.

Pakistan produce this emotional claptrap begging the world to tour a "cricket starved nation", yet can't even do the basics like preparing a good wicket. Maybe we're better off staying in UAE.

[MSaad1237]

So disappointed.

[RedwoodOriginal]

Absolutely shameful and pathetic. Bought a ticket for Day Four but I don't think I'll be going anymore. No point watching this absolute waste of time.

[ElRaja]

I'm starting to think that SAF series was an anomaly. SAF also bat like tailenders in Asia.

Pakistan produce this emotional claptrap begging the world to tour a "cricket starved nation", yet can't even do the basics like preparing a good wicket. Maybe we're better off staying in UAE.

lol, this england team would have mullered pak in UAE too. like baz and Williamson did in sharjah i think it was, mccullum knows pak cannot handle all out attacking cricket, the bowlers have wilted and are completely mentally shot in two sessions here.

[RedwoodOriginal]

Ramiz Raja is the worst thing to happen to Pakistan cricket since the spot-fixing scandal.

[RedwoodOriginal]

Good captains and team managements can take the pitch out of the equation and still achieve results.

Watch India's Bharat Arun inspired off middle stump tactics against Australia with a packed leg side field. The Indian bowlers kept on ruthlessly bowling maidens after maidens and gave nothing at all to the Australia batsmen and they successfully frustrated them into mistakes.

Such an approach was even more vital on this pitch but no, you offer Babar a million dollars and he would still remain clueless on what to do.

I know you're a Ramiz fan boy but if you're justifying this pitch then you're either not watching the match or simply out of your mind.

[pakistanigoneaussie]

May as well use a tennis ball

[shokz1408]

I expected such a pitch from Pakistan. This hammering is deserved.

[RexRex]

Pakistan should prepare crumbling pitches like in India that make it hard to bat. Batsmen like Babar can prosper on those minefields.

[cricketjoshila]

May as well use a tennis ball

Wet tennis ball may be?

[cricketjoshila]

Pakistan should prepare crumbling pitches like in India that make it hard to bat. Batsmen like Babar can prosper on those minefields.

Babar is one of the reasons they make these kind of pitches

[Ashmal]

Pakistan should prepare crumbling pitches like in India that make it hard to bat. Batsmen like Babar can prosper on those minefields.

Not possible to prepare such dustbowls except in Karachi.

[Pakpak]

It's okay we can all do bhangra on reaching the final of a trash t20 format

[Ashmal]

Babar is one of the reasons they make these kind of pitches

Nah...it's all Ramiz's doing.

Babar has been the captain for more than 2 years now and pitches were nowhere as bad then as we've seen under Ramiz's tenure.

[TheSultan]

Flat pitches are flat pitches but you combine that with flat captaincy, flat bowling and a sprinkle of Bazball (England didn’t actually go that hard, just naturally) and this is what you get. Pathetic all round

[IAJ]

It might happen but it won't make the pitch better.

Batting after fielding for 2 days with a deficit of 600 runs.....it becomes a different game.

Let's put it another way. Had Pakistan batted first, do you think they would have piled up 506 runs first day? Really don't think so. Yes, poor wicket, but poor bowling and captaincy as well.

[Marooned]

Rameez should be sacked.

Complete waste of everyone's time preparing such wickets for test cricket.

We saw the same thing vs Australia. Difference being Pakistan won the toss at pindi. This time we bat 2nd and they will crumble under scoreboard pressure of 600+ and I don't mind if that happens.