Shahid Afridi, the former captain of Pakistan, reacted angrily to PCB chairman Ramiz Raja's remarks regarding the Rawalpindi pitch for the current first Test against England. On Day 1 of the match, when England decisively scored over 500 runs while Pakistan's bowlers failed miserably against a counter-attacking batting strategy, the pitch came under fire.
Raja shockingly said that Pakistan has yet to discover the secret to creating the ideal Test-match pitch. Afridi expressed his displeasure with Raja's remarks and noted that the nation has been hosting international games for a very long time.
"The way Ramiz was speaking, I mean I was shocked to listen to him saying that we cannot make tracks like these. International matches have been going on in Pakistan for such a long time but then we say stuff like these. Ramiz said that he wanted a turning track I feel in this weather it would have been something big," Afridi told Samaa TV.
The illustrious all-rounder opined that the track at Rawalpindi was always set up to help the pacers and that it was unnecessary to make any changes for the first Test against England, which put them in danger of losing the first Test.
"Rawalpindi’s track has always been for the fast bowlers with seam and bounce. Why did they even change it? We now fear losing this Test and we want to win but don’t know the technique," he added.
I have never seen a track like this: Shahid Afridi
Afridi didn't hold back and said that the pitch in Rawalpindi was similar to those in Sialkot or Faisalabad and that flat pitches like these prevent bowlers from performing to their full potential.
"If we are talking about the Rawalpindi pitch, I have never seen a track like this. I have seen a lot of domestic games as well there, but I have never seen a pitch like this which is so flat. It reminded me of Faisalabad or Sialkot track. The four big venues - Multan, Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi - I have seen fast bowlers enjoy those tracks because of the bounce. In fact, there was a time when we used to see a lot many fast bowlers coming from Rawalpindi," he added.
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Shahid Afridi lashes out at Ramiz Raja for his comments on Rawalpindi wicket for Pakistan vs England Test match
Shahid Afridi reacted angrily to PCB chairman Ramiz Raja's remarks regarding the Rawalpindi pitch for the current first Test against England.
Shahid Afridi-Ramiz Raja (Source: Twitter)
Shahid Afridi, the former captain of Pakistan, reacted angrily to PCB chairman Ramiz Raja's remarks regarding the Rawalpindi pitch for the current first Test against England. On Day 1 of the match, when England decisively scored over 500 runs while Pakistan's bowlers failed miserably against a counter-attacking batting strategy, the pitch came under fire.
Raja shockingly said that Pakistan has yet to discover the secret to creating the ideal Test-match pitch. Afridi expressed his displeasure with Raja's remarks and noted that the nation has been hosting international games for a very long time.
"The way Ramiz was speaking, I mean I was shocked to listen to him saying that we cannot make tracks like these. International matches have been going on in Pakistan for such a long time but then we say stuff like these. Ramiz said that he wanted a turning track I feel in this weather it would have been something big," Afridi told Samaa TV.
The illustrious all-rounder opined that the track at Rawalpindi was always set up to help the pacers and that it was unnecessary to make any changes for the first Test against England, which put them in danger of losing the first Test.
"Rawalpindi’s track has always been for the fast bowlers with seam and bounce. Why did they even change it? We now fear losing this Test and we want to win but don’t know the technique," he added.
I have never seen a track like this: Shahid Afridi
Afridi didn't hold back and said that the pitch in Rawalpindi was similar to those in Sialkot or Faisalabad and that flat pitches like these prevent bowlers from performing to their full potential.
"If we are talking about the Rawalpindi pitch, I have never seen a track like this. I have seen a lot of domestic games as well there, but I have never seen a pitch like this which is so flat. It reminded me of Faisalabad or Sialkot track. The four big venues - Multan, Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi - I have seen fast bowlers enjoy those tracks because of the bounce. In fact, there was a time when we used to see a lot many fast bowlers coming from Rawalpindi," he added.