Ramiz Raja backs the Pindi Stadium pitch used for first Pak-Aus Test match

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja has spoken about the condition of the pitch used for the recently concluded Test match in Rawalpindi.

Speaking in a video released by the PCB, Raja addressed the concerns regarding the "dead wicket" but backed the flat track in Pindi Stadium.

"I understand fans’ frustration and a result would have been good but this is a three-match series. We need to remember that there is a lot of cricket to come still. Just for the heck of it, we don’t want to prepare a fast and bouncy pitch and play into Australia’s hands," said Raja.

"We also had limited resources for this Test…when you have a disturbed bowling and batting pair which is raw, you prepare according to that. Then we didn’t have a leg-spinner ready because Yasir Shah was unfit," he added.

Raja admitted that "a drawn Test match isn’t a good advertisement for Test cricket" but he reiterated his stance on making good pitches all over Pakistan.

"I came in September and the season had already started. It takes five to six months to prepare a pitch. When the season finishes you will see that we are bringing in soil from Australia and we are experimenting here with soil experts. We will redo 50-60 pitches all over Pakistan as soon as our season ends in March-April," he said.

Both teams play the second Test match on March 12, which will be played at the National Stadium Karachi.