New Delhi: Pakistan pace bowler Naseem Shah questioned the level of pitches prepared for the first Test match against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Bangladesh took a substantial lead of 117 in the first innings thanks to the valiant efforts of senior player Mushfiqur Rahim (191).
Naseem Shah claimed three wickets from 27.3 overs to finish as the most successful bowler from the hosts in the first innings. Test matches in Pakistan have come under scrutiny over the past two years for preparing placid pitches.
“We need to be honest. It’s been too many series where we get these types of pitches. The groundstaff tried their best to make this pitch good for bowling, but perhaps because of the heat and sunshine there isn’t much help from the pitch,” Naseem told reporters after the gameplay of Day 4.
“We need to think about how to extract home advantage, because you have to find a way to produce results from these games, otherwise you’re not utilising home advantage,” he added.
Naseem rues on not being able to use home advantage
Naseem Shah emphasised the importance of making pitches which help the home team with a certain advantage. The 21-year-old speedster, who played his first Test after an absence of a year, pointed out how the high-scoring matches cannot be in favour of the crowd.
“If we’re incapable of making the sort of pitches that help fast bowlers, then we should look at whether we can produce spin wickets,” he said.
“However you do it, you need to use home advantage. People come to enjoy Test cricket in this heat, so you need to entertain them. What shouldn’t happen is you’re on the field at home and thinking this is hard work. The more you keep cricket entertaining, the better. It’s something we need to seriously think about,” he added.
Pakistan was bowled out for 146 in the second innings in the afternoon of Day 5. Bangladesh was set for a minuscule target of 30 runs to chase.
Pakistan pace bowler Naseem Shah questioned the level of pitches prepared for the first Test match against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
