Pakistan’s former cricketer, Basit Ali, has harshly criticized the country’s pitch curator, Tony Hemming, for his poor pitch preparation ahead of the second Test against England in Multan. Basit voiced his frustration after Pakistan suffered a humiliating defeat in the first Test, losing by an innings and 47 runs despite putting up over 500 runs in their first innings.
Basit Ali expressed disappointment with Hemming, who hails from Australia and has previously worked with the ICC. He claimed that the curator’s inability to prepare a proper spinning surface was a major issue, especially given that the pitch in Multan did not favor spin bowling, even on the fifth day.
Lack of Spin-Friendly Conditions in Multan
In the first Test, England’s bowlers managed to dominate despite the pitch offering little support to spinners. Pakistan’s own spinner, Abrar Ahmed, went wicketless in 35 overs while leaking 174 runs at an economy of 4.97. Abrar later fell ill and was hospitalized. Although spinners Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha took some wickets, they also conceded runs at a heavy rate.
England’s spinners did not find much assistance from the surface either. Shoaib Bashir managed only one wicket across two innings, while veteran spinner Jack Leach had to rely on his experience rather than pitch conditions to be effective.
Basit Ali’s Frustration with the Curator
Basit Ali was vocal about his dissatisfaction with Hemming’s pitch preparation, stating that the expectations for spin on the second day of the first Test went unfulfilled, as the pitch failed to turn even by the fifth day. Basit questioned the decision to hire Hemming, emphasizing that a curator who doesn’t understand how to prepare a pitch suited to local conditions should not be in charge.
“What is the point of appointing a curator who doesn’t know how to make a pitch? The whole world is mocking us,” Basit remarked on his YouTube channel, highlighting India’s success in preparing pitches that favor their style of play.
Expectations for the 2nd Test
With Pakistan opting for a spin-heavy lineup for the second Test, the team is hoping for a pitch that will assist their bowlers more than in the previous match. Players like Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Zahid Mahmood are expected to play key roles in exploiting any turn the surface may offer.
Teams for the 2nd Test:
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mehmood.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Jamie Smith, Brydon Carse, Matt Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.
