Hafeez weighs in on GSL pitch behaviour debate

Pakistan’s veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez was surprised by the unusual behaviour of the pitches, at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore (GSL), used during the ongoing three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series between the home side and Bangladesh.

While speaking to media in a press conference after the conclusion of the second T20I, which Pakistan won by nine wickets, Hafeez shared his opinion on the nature of the pitches used over the course of the first two matches.  

"It's unusual to see such pitches in Pakistan because normally they are good batting tracks. Today's pitch was better but it still wasn't like the usual Pakistani pitch,” said Hafeez.

Earlier, former Pakistan cricketers Inzamamul Haq and Rashid Latif had also criticised the pitch used for the first T20I between Pakistan and Bangladesh on Friday.

While speaking in a Youtube video, Inzamam requested the curators to prepare a better pitch for future matches. Meanwhile, Latif said that PCB should try preparing pitches which atleast result in a par score of 160-170 instead of a meagre 140.

Bangladesh Head Coach Russell Domingo was also disappointed with the ‘average’ pitches prepared for the series.

"The wickets have not been great and a little bit average. It was not easy to bat on them, the pitch was a bit better today but we have a very young batting line-up," Domingo said after the second T20I. "We decided to bat first both times because it didn't look like an easy wicket to bat on and we thought that if we put up a respectable total we could test and squeeze their batsmen in the chase. I think we did that in the first match."

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Hafeez made an undefeated 49-ball 67 to guide Pakistan to a modest 137-run target in 16.4 overs at Gaddafi stadium, helping his side take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series on Saturday.

"I think this was a brilliant opportunity for me to represent Pakistan and to make winning contributions, I am more happy than anything else that I won the match for Pakistan and that required missing part in the team, I will try to fill it,” said Hafeez. "I was very happy when Shoaib Malik played a good knock in a tough situation to win the match for Pakistan, that was something to learn from. Similarly, I am happy that I contributed towards a win with my knock today."

"There is the pressure of expectations on you when you are returning, I didn't play any match for Pakistan since 7-8 months, since the World Cup, so there are a lot of thoughts, but I held myself and backed my preparation and experience. I am happy that I kept myself positive in that tough time and kept myself ready,” he added.