In a surprising decision, Pakistan is set to reuse the heavily criticized Multan pitch from the first Test against England for the second match of the series. The decision comes after Pakistan’s innings defeat to England, who scored a massive 823-7, marking the fourth-highest Test total in history.
Despite facing criticism over the batting-friendly nature of the pitch, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) aims to level the series by using the same surface for the second Test starting on Tuesday.
Concerns Over Pitch Quality
The pitch in Multan came under scrutiny after England’s record-breaking innings. Pakistan managed a respectable 556 in their first innings, but the flat nature of the surface was a point of contention. The ICC’s playing conditions permit the reuse of a pitch in successive matches, but there are concerns it could receive a poor rating if it doesn’t hold up during the second Test.
Industrial-sized fans were used to dry the pitch, and both teams, including captains and head coaches, inspected it ahead of the match. Pakistan’s head coach Jason Gillespie and captain Shan Masood held detailed discussions, while England’s head coach Brendon McCullum also spent time evaluating the conditions.
PCB’s History with Flat Pitches
Pakistan has a long-standing history with flat pitches that often favor batsmen, which has attracted criticism from players and commentators alike. In 1980, former Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee famously referred to a Pakistani pitch as a “bowler’s graveyard.”
More recently, the pitch at Rawalpindi was rated “below average” by the ICC after a Test match against Australia saw over 1,000 runs scored with just 14 wickets falling. Though the PCB successfully appealed the demerit point given by the ICC for that pitch, the Multan surface now faces similar scrutiny as Pakistan looks to avoid further controversy in the ongoing series against England.
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