Ramiz Raja Explains Why The Rawalpindi Pitch Was Dead

Ramiz Raja issued a statement following massive criticism that the board has had to face because of the dead Rawalpindi wicket.

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Ramiz Raja Defends The Dead Rawalpindi Pitch

While defending PCB’s decision of preparing a dead wicket for the historic Test against Australia Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said, “The first thing is when I took charge as the PCB chief, my statement made headlines on pitches when I said that pitches need to be massively redone. When I came in September, the cricket season was in progress and it generally takes almost five to six months to prepare one pitch. Off-season you will see [the difference] as we are bringing soil from Australia. Here we are also experimenting and have prepared some soil through soil experts and we will redo 50 to 60 pitches throughout Pakistan. We will do this when our season closes in March-April.

“Look, it is a three-match Test series so there is a lot of cricket left and we don’t want to play in the lap of Australia by making a fast and bouncy pitch. It is necessary when we play at home we should play according to our strength. Unfortunately we had limited resources in fast bowling as Hasan Ali and Faheem got unfit. There was a brand new opening pair. Abdullah Shafique had played two or three matches and there was doubt with regard to whether or not he will be able to click against a strong Australian attack. Similarly, Imam-ul-Haq was staging a comeback. When your bowling and opening pair is disturbed and raw, you can’t take too many chances.

Read: Steve Smith Labels Rawalpindi Pitch As “Pretty Benign, Dead Wicket”