Pakistan batters 'afraid' of grassy pitches that aid pacers: Basit Ali
Former cricketer Basit Ali has claimed that current Pakistan batters are afraid of playing on grassy pitches that assist fast bowlers. While discussing about the kind of surfaces they would prefer for the series against England, he opined that even if the hosts prepare turning tracks, they do not have the spinners to exploit the condition.
Pakistan suffered a shocking 2-0 loss to Bangladesh in the two-match Test series played in Rawalpindi in August-September. They had never lost a Test to Bangladesh before this series. Pakistan will next host England for three Tests in October. The first two Tests will be played in Multan, while the series will conclude with the third match in Rawalpindi.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit expressed concern over the kind of pitches that the hosts could prepare for the England challenge. He commented that Pakistan do not have the resources to do well irrespective of whether they prepare turning tracks or grassy surfaces that have help for pace bowlers. He said (as quoted by news agency ANI):
"What sort of pitch will you make for the England series? If you make a spin pitch, then who are the spinners that you have? Sajid Khan is at home, and you did not consider Yasir Shah. Noman Ali played one match and wasn't considered again. Only Zahid Mahmood is left.
"Will you make a grass pitch just like you did against Bangladesh? Pakistan played with four pacers, and at the end, the spinners took wickets. You won't make a quick surface because Pakistan batters are afraid of such a surface," the 53-year-old went on to add.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hosted a connection camp in Lahore on Monday, September 23 ahead of the Test series against England. The camp was attended by key players including Babar Azam, Shan Masood, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Afridi among others.
How Bangladesh outshone Pakistan in the Test series
Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 10 wickets in the first Test in Rawalpindi. The hosts went into the match with an all-pace attack, but the move backfired. For Bangladesh, off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed four wickets in the second innings, while left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan picked up three.
In the second Test, Mehidy Hasan picked up a five-fer in the first innings, while pacers Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana combined to claim nine wickets in the second essay. Pakistan were cleaned up for 172 in the second innings as Bangladesh created history with a six-wicket win.