‘We do not have the soil to make turning wickets like…’ – Mohammad Yousuf defends flat pitches in Pakistan

In the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, Pakistan has, once again, been under fire for maintaining lifeless home tracks. On a deck where bowlers found it challenging to restrict batters, the first Test match at Karachi concluded in a tie after some excellent batting performances from both teams.

It was a continuation of Pakistan’s practice of fielding lifeless pitches against visiting teams during the Test series against Australia and England. Pakistan lost two consecutive series against Australia and England and failed to win a single Test match, as a result.

Mohammad Yousuf, the batting coach for Pakistan, gave an explanation during the press conference following the second Test match and claimed that the nation lacked the soil necessary to produce turning tracks for SENA nations.

It’s tough for us after they scored 100 extra runs for the last wicket: Mohammad Yousuf

“I went to have a word about the wicket in Multan they told me that we do not have the soil to make turning wickets like India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. They need 30 percent clay soil, which they do not have. Even in the past, the wicket used to keep low and the oddball used to turn like it happened today,” Yousuf said after the end of Day 1 in the second Test match against New Zealand.

“There is no way to predict how the wicket is going to behave. If we can take the lead, New Zealand will be under pressure. We have a young bowling side and you need an experienced unit for Test bowling. I think we should let the board know what kind of soil we want when we are hosting teams in the country,” Yousuf said about a possible solution.

The former cricketer also talked about the 104-run partnership for the last wicket between Blackcaps batters Matt Henry and Ajaz Patel.

“There is no doubt that the 100-run stand is not good for Pakistan,” Yousuf said. “It’s tough for us after they scored 100 extra runs for the last wicket. It should not have been done but such a time comes when the last pair starts going, it teases you, and today it happened. They batted well and luck also favored them,” he said.