Pakistan vs England: Pitch Controversy Unfolds
As Pakistan gears up for their Test series against England, former cricketer Basit Ali has shared an intriguing inside story. The Pakistan batters are reportedly seeking a flat pitch for the series, but head coach Jason Gillespie disagrees. This comes after Pakistan’s surprising 2-0 loss to Bangladesh, which has heightened interest in the upcoming matches.
Pitch Preparations in Multan and Rawalpindi
With the series set to begin soon, discussions are ongoing about the pitch conditions in Multan and Rawalpindi. Basit Ali revealed that Gillespie has firmly opposed the batters’ request to remove grass from the Multan pitch, preferring to keep it as prepared by the groundsman. Basit expressed his support for playing on a grassy surface, hoping it would benefit Pakistan’s bowlers.
Challenges for Pakistan’s Test Team
Pakistan’s Test team has faced challenges since Shan Masood took over as captain from Babar Azam. The team experienced a 3-0 series defeat in Australia and a historic loss to Bangladesh at home. Pakistan has not won a home Test match in over 1338 days, with their last victory against South Africa in February 2021.
Pakistan’s Squad for the First Test
The squad for the first Test against England includes Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Doubts Revealed
Basit Ali -: Basit Ali is a former cricketer from Pakistan who played for the national team. He is known for his batting skills and has been involved in cricket as a player and coach.
Flat pitch -: A flat pitch in cricket is one that is even and smooth, making it easier for batters to score runs. It usually doesn’t help bowlers much, especially those who rely on bounce and movement.
Jason Gillespie -: Jason Gillespie is a former Australian cricketer and a coach. He was a fast bowler and played for the Australian national team. As a coach, he helps teams improve their cricket skills and strategies.
Multan and Rawalpindi -: Multan and Rawalpindi are cities in Pakistan. They are known for hosting cricket matches, and each has a stadium where international cricket games are played.
Shan Masood -: Shan Masood is a Pakistani cricketer who plays as a batsman. He has also been the captain of the Pakistan cricket team in some matches.
Saud Shakeel -: Saud Shakeel is a young cricketer from Pakistan. He is known for his batting and is considered a promising talent for the future of Pakistan cricket.
Babar Azam -: Babar Azam is a famous Pakistani cricketer and one of the top batsmen in the world. He is known for his excellent batting skills and is often a key player for Pakistan in international matches.