PAK v NZ 2022-23: WATCH – “Does Babar want to play on roads…” Simon Doull slams lifeless pitches of Pakistan

Simon Doull seemed clearly frustrated with the nature of pitches in Pakistan.

By Salman Anjum - 05 Jan, 2023

Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull has lashed out at the nature of pitches dished out in the ongoing Test series between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi.

The opening Test ended in a high-scoring draw at the National Stadium in Karachi, while the second Test is currently being played at the same venue.

Just like the series opener, the second Test has seen plenty of runs till the second session on Day 4 so far.

Doull, who is commentating in the ongoing series, seemed clearly frustrated with the lifeless pitches of Pakistan.

“Where do these directives come from? Do they come from Babar Azam? Does he want to play on these roads to improve his own stats,” Doull said on-air.

Speaking on the Pitch Side show, the 53-year-old further said: “Let the ground staff do their job properly.”

“The people above, the hierarchy, have just got to leave their noses out of it.”

“It offers nothing. There is no grass on it. There is no seam movement, and there is no carry,” he added.

“You are picking a guy like Mir Hamza who has a terrific first-class record. You pick guys who perform well at that level, but they come and bowl on this road. You can’t expect them to do the same job that they’re doing at the first-class level if you’re going to produce these types of surfaces.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has come under the scanner for serving unresponsive tracks lately. In the last two Test series against England and Australia, the pitches were substandard and the Rawalpindi strip received below average rating from the ICC.

While Pakistan had lost the three-match Test series against Australia 1-0 earlier last year, they recently suffered a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of England.

(The Indian Express Inputs)

By Salman Anjum - 05 Jan, 2023

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