"Does Babar Azam wants such flat wickets to improve his stats"- Simon Doull slams Babar and PCB for dead pitch at Karachi
New Zealand is currently touring Pakistan for two Tests and three ODIs. The first test between both teams ended in a draw, while the second game is underway at the Karachi National Stadium. Over the last few test series in Pakistan, the pitches have received a lot of criticism.
Former Kiwi cricketer turned commentator Simon Doull also went on to criticise Babar Azam and the Pakistan Cricket Board for preparing such flat tracks for the test matches. The pitch used in the second test is not providing much assistance to the bowlers.
As a result, in the first two innings of the game, both teams have scored over 400 runs. Batting first, New Zealand scored 449 runs, while Pakistan made 408 runs in their first inning. And at the tea break on Day 4, the visitors are at 151/4 with a lead of 192 runs.
Many former cricketers and cricket experts have questioned the pitch prepared by Pakistan in recent times in test matches. Meanwhile, Simon Doull has also joined that list. On Wednesday, in the commentary, the former Kiwi cricketer said that these pitches are not ideal for test cricket. He also went to question that who ask for such pitches, is it Babar Azam or the PCB officials.
Simon said, "When it comes to the Test match, it is completely different. Where does this directive come from? Does it come from Babar who wants to bat on a road and improve his own stats? Does it come from above him?"
Simon doull on babar azam on live international commentry 🤐🤐 pic.twitter.com/59eaqHEjis
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Furthermore, he also urged the PCB to not interfere and let the pitch curator do their duties. He stated that Pakistan should produce the same wickets in test matches as they do in first-class cricket, and the higher officials need to let the curator work on it because only that can help Pakistan bowlers and cricket.
He also highlighted that the host picked Mir Humza, who was the top performer in first-class cricket, to bowl on such a road, which offers nothing. Doull concluded that Pakistan can't expect good performances from their bowler after playing them in such dead pitches.