Rawalpindi Test: Fawad Chaudhry slams PCB for making dead wicket

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has expressed his disappointment with the Pakistan Cricket Board for preparing a dead wicket for the historic first Test between Pakistan and Australia at Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

The 46-year-old is very passionate about cricket and also watched the first day of the Test series opener alongside Governor Sindh Imran Ismail.

ALSO READ: Dead pitch equal to dead game - Wasim Jaffer reacts to Rawalpindi track

The Rawalpindi Test was a run-feast as over 1000 runs were made and only 14 wickets fell across five days.

Pakistan batted first and scored 476 runs for the loss of four wickets in two days, Imam-ul-Haq (157) and Azhar Ali (185) scored centuries for the home side. 

Australia in response, batted for the next two days and scored 459 runs. Usman Khwaja (97), David Warner (68), Marnus Labuschagne(90), Steve Smith (78) scored half-centuries.

Nauman Ali was the only bowler who had some success in the five-day battle as he bagged six wickets in the first innings. Pakistan came to bat again on the final day and added 252* runs for the opening wicket with Imam-ul-Haq scoring back to back centuries in the match and Abdullah Shafique registering the first ton of his career.

Fawad criticised the approach of PCB over preparing a dead pitch despite having a formidable pace attack. He hopes to see better wickets in the coming matches which will produce results.

"Extremely disappointed on PCB for choosing a dead wicket for the historic Test match, with such a furious pace attack why would we need such dead pitches?” Fawad questioned.

“Test match after 24 years and look at the pitch, hope they will give positive cricket chance in next matches,” he added.

Extremely disappointed on PCB choosing a dead wicket for an historic test match,with such a furious Pak pace attack why would we need such dead pitches? Test match after 24 years and look at the pitch, hope they will give positive cricket a chance in next matches #PAKvsAUS

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 9, 2022

It must be noted that both teams will now head to Karachi for the second match of the series, starting from March 12.