‘Just brilliant batting’- PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja has slightly different opinion on Rawalpindi’s ‘dull pitch’

The Rawalpindi Test match between England and Pakistan has made a mockery of a competitive format after the visiting side felled many records on their way to 506 on Day 1. The pitch at Pindi Cricket Stadium has come under huge scrutiny for its ‘flat trackedness’ and unhelpfulness of any sort to the bowlers.

Four of England’s batters were able to make centuries on the first day itself smashing the record of the highest opening-day run in a Test match. The pitch has now been called out by fans as well as pundits for ‘unsporting’ character with many labelling it as ‘dull’ and ‘anti-Test’. When the question about Pindi’s unsuitable cricket pitch was put forth PCB chairman Ramiz Raja had quite an interesting answer for it.

“It was just brilliant batting. The only time Pakistan did not concede 30 runs in a 5-minute spell was one they were taking DRS. It was fabulous – the best advertisement for how to absolutely nail a dull pitch with exciting batting,” Raja told BBC Test Match Special.

It is not the first time that Pakistan had prepared such a pitch for a Test match. Earlier this year, the PCB had prepared a similar pitch for Test series against Australia. The first two matches of that series were high scoring draws whereas the third one was won by Australia.

The behavior of the pitch changes- Saqlain Mushtaq

Pakistan head coach Saqlain Mushtaq has also vocalised Raja’s opinion and said that the pitch was according to Test norms.

“I think today is only the first day of this Test match, and we are already discussing the future. The behaviour of the pitch changes in Test cricket with wear and tear. We should give a lot of credit to England, but this Test match will be very exciting,” he had told reporters after stumps on Day 1.

England scored 657 runs in the first innings and Pakistan are currently at 181/0 at the end of Day 2.