PAK vs ENG: Former Pakistan cricketer slams pitch curator Tony Hemming

The pitch drew criticism for its inability to support spin bowling, which was expected to play a significant role in the match

PHOTO: PCB

Former cricketer Basit Ali has expressed his discontent with Pakistan's pitch curator, Tony Hemming, claiming the Australian does not know how to effectively prepare a cricket pitch. His remarks come on the heels of Pakistan's disappointing performance in the first Test against England, where they suffered a historic defeat by an innings and 47 runs on what appeared to be a benign surface in Multan.

The pitch drew criticism for its inability to support spin bowling, which was expected to play a significant role in the match. England's Shoaib Bashir managed to secure only one wicket throughout both innings, while the experienced Jack Leach relied more on his bowling prowess than on the pitch conditions. Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed endured a challenging outing, bowling 35 overs and conceding 174 runs without taking a wicket, leading to his hospitalization due to illness. Meanwhile, Saim Ayub and Samlan Ali Agha had moments of success but also leaked runs heavily.

Basit Ali highlighted that, despite Hemming's experience, he is not equipped to prepare pitches suitable for the Pakistani conditions. He pointed to India's pitch preparation as a benchmark, emphasizing the need for tailored pitches that align with the home team's strengths.

"We thought in the first Test match that the ball would spin on the second day, but it didn't happen even on the fifth day. The curator is from Australia and has been a part of the ICC, yet he doesn't know how to prepare a pitch," Basit stated on his YouTube channel.

"Now, players will play on the same pitch, hoping that the ball will spin. What is the point of appointing a curator who doesn't know how to make a pitch? This is a crucial question. The whole world is making fun of us. Look at India; the pitch is prepared the way they want it."

With Pakistan expected to field a spin-heavy squad for the second Test, there are hopes that the pitch will favor their spinners.

Pakistan (Playing XI): Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (capt), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mehmood.

England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith, Brydon Carse, Matt Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.