Pakistan batsman Imam-ul-Haq on Thursday shrugged off criticism of the Rawalpindi pitch where the first Test was played, insisting that the hosts were playing to their strengths and the wickets for both the teams were equal. Was.
Rawalpindi’s lifeless pitch became the talk of the town after only 14 wickets fell in five days in the first Test. While Pakistan managed to take all 10 Australian wickets in the first innings, Australia could take only four overall as the hosts posted 476 for four and 252 for no loss before the match ended in a draw.
During this process, Imam became only the 10th batsman and third opener from Pakistan to score centuries in both innings of a Test. Imam and Abdullah Shafiq also set a new record for most runs scored by an opening pair against Australia.
After the game ended in a draw, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins suggested that the lifeless pitch was made to eliminate the visitors’ fast attack. Later, PCB chairman Ramiz Raja also admitted that the match was “not a good advertisement” for cricket and said that he understood the frustration of the fans, but insisted that, “Just for the sake of it, we will try a fast pitch or A bouncy pitch and put the game in Australia’s lap.”
However, the Pakistan opener questioned the critics of the pitch, asking whether Australia would ever prepare their own pitches at home after consulting the opponent.
“A draw is something that nobody wants to see. Obviously when it’s a five-day Test match everyone expects results. But when we go to Australian conditions, they don’t make pitches that take advice from us, Rather make according to our wish, so I think we should see our strength and live up to our strength,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Imam as saying.
“But in Karachi, we are looking for results in our favour. I think the Rawalpindi Test was played well as we all managed to get 10 wickets. Unfortunately, 70 overs were not played due to bad light and rain, but had those overs been bowled, the result could have been different as we intended to bat them again.”
Playing the Test at home for the first time, Imam kept his focus on the slow pitch and faced Australian spinner Nathan Lyon without any hassle. But the batsman feels that he will still be criticized.
“Regardless of my systematic or unstable position in the team or even whether I am performing or not, I will always be criticized. It is almost five years and 60 games I have played for Pakistan so far and still I face criticism but I am not sad because it is very normal for me,” said Imam.
“My job is to score runs and the quality of the innings should be assessed based on my intention. For me, my captain, my coach and think-tank are important and what are they expecting from me and how do they judge my innings. It really doesn’t matter what people say from outside and what impression is made about me doesn’t matter and I don’t care.
He said, ‘Everyone has the right to have an opinion and I respect that any decision on behalf of the people in the dressing room is important to me.
Imam also emphasized that he did not ask the curators to make the pitch according to him and the track was the same for both the teams.
“I did not ask the curator to make the pitch according to me, nor is he a relative of mine. It was the same for Australia, yet we got their 10 wickets and none of them could score 100 runs. I didn’t ask for the pitch so that I could score a century in each innings.”
“The Karachi pitch will be the same as it was in first-class cricket and I will not be playing in it for the first time. But at the same time, whatever Test I had played before, I had played outside South Africa, Ireland and outside England. So whatever the pitch – be it green, yellow or brown – my job is to play cricket and I will play and keep believing in my practice.”
The second Test starts on March 12 in Karachi, where spinners have taken 275 first-class wickets at 33.16 in the last five years, while fast bowlers have dominated at 31.44 and 499 wickets.
Get all the latest updates cricket news, cricket pictures, cricket videos, IPL Auction 2022 And cricket score Here