Shan Masood reveals reason behind reusing Multan pitch in second Test against England

Pakistan's bold decision to reuse the same pitch from the first Test in Multan proved to be a masterstroke, resulting in a 152-run win over England in the second Test. 

After suffering a comprehensive defeat in the series opener, Pakistan took the unusual step of playing on a previously used surface to create conditions that might favor their spinners.

In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Test captain Shan Masood explained the strategy behind this pitch decision. 

"We decided to play on a used pitch because the fresh pitch we were preparing was also going to be a spin wicket. The issue was that too much water had been given to the square, and the option was that if we played on a fresh pitch, it wouldn't break at all. The better option was to take the used pitch, prepare it a bit, roll it, improve its condition, and play on it, as it was already dry. This way, it would start breaking by the third day, making a result possible and giving our spinners a chance to take 20 wickets," Shan said.

It is worth noting that industrial fans had been set up over the pitch to dry out the pitch, which still held cracks and bowlers' footmarks from the previous Test. Head coach Jason Gillespie and Masood, alongside PCB’s head curator Tony Hemming, examined the pitch, hoping its wear and tear would create variable bounce and turn, giving their bowlers a much-needed advantage.

This unconventional decision to reuse a pitch, while rare, was permissible under ICC regulations, which only require pitches to be in optimal condition without needing to be unused. The conditions helped Pakistan’s spinners dominate, with England struggling to counter the challenging bounce and turn. The tactic broke Pakistan’s 11-Test winless streak at home and allowed them to level the series.

For England, adapting to the reused pitch proved difficult, and the spinners’ influence prevented them from gaining the upper hand. Ben Stokes, who had been preparing for an increased bowling role, couldn’t make the impact England hoped for.