Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja questioned why the pitch in Multan for the first Test match against England was not created to assist the hosts’ bowling attack, with over 1,500 runs scored across four days and 23 wickets falling.
England had a record breaking first innings where they plundered 823/7 declared with Harry Brook slamming a triple century and a double ton for Joe Root.
The duo took England past the 600-run mark in the opening session on Thursday (Day 4) as they brought up their individual double centuries.
They helped the visitors overtake Pakistan’s first innings total of 556. Babar Azam put down a simple chance early on day four, dropping a catch from Joe Root at mid-wicket.
Speaking during the TV coverage, Raja expressed his sympathy with the Pakistan bowling attack: “I’m sure bowlers will be questioning the quality of this track because they bend their back and nothing has happened,” said Raja. “You start questioning why such a surface was provided and why are we playing on such a surface at home.”
As England piled on a jaw-dropping 823 runs, they became the first team to score 800-plus runs this century. It became the fourth instance of a team scoring over 800 runs in Test cricket history.
Raja has turned to commentary since serving as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) between September 2021 and December 2022.
He came under criticism when he declared that Pakistan were “years away from preparing a good five-day pitch” during England’s win in Rawalpindi in 2022. The surface in that Test was rated ‘below average’ and given a demerit point.
Among Raja’s critics on the topic was former seamer Wasim Akram, who – during Pakistan’s series against Australia in 2022 – denounced Raja’s influence over the types of Test match pitches prepared in Pakistan.
The second Test between Pakistan and England, which will begin next week, will also be played in Multan, before the final Test shifts to Rawalpindi.
Given the amount of runs scored on this wicket and the difficulty bowlers have had in taking wickets, the groundstaff may well undertake significant work during the gap days to ensure a repeat of the first Test doesn’t take place in the second.
