'Don't remember such slow, low pitches during my days'- Salman Butt slams PCB over poor Karachi pitch

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been facing a lot of criticism from all around the world due to the pitch used in the first Test match between Pakistan and Australia played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The first Test match ended as a draw with 1187 runs scored at the loss of only 14 wickets falling in the entire match.

Several former Pakistani cricketers including Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Danish Kaneria and Salman Butt raised their concerns criticising the ‘dead’ surface. Cricket fans hoped that they will get to see a much better competition between bat and ball in the second Test being played in Karachi. However, that has not been the case so far. Butt has now expressed his concerns on the pitch being used in the second Test match.

Australian skipper Patt Cummins after winning the toss opted to bat first in the second Test match. Proving their captain right, Australia have crossed the 400-run-mark in their first inning. Opener Usman Khawaja top scored with a 160-run knock. Apart from Khawaja, Steven Smith (72) and wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey (93) crossed the 50-run-mark as well.

I don’t remember such slow surfaces in Pakistan: Salman Butt

Former Pakistan captain Butt  expressed his disappointment at the pitch being used in the second Test. He emphasized on the fact that some assistance to the fast bowlers must have been provided.

“If I have Shaheen, Hasan, Naseem Shah, I will provide something in the pitch for them. I don’t have Yasir Shah so I cannot play the leg-spinner and when I say this, I’m also saying that we don’t have spinners on whom we can rely to win matches. I can’t prepare a track that assists spin. So, give something to fast bowlers instead,” Butt said on his YouTube channel.

The 37-year-old also recalled his playing days citing an example of India’s tour of Pakistan in 2006 where Indian pacer Irfan Pathan took a hat-trick.

“I don’t remember such slow and low pitches during my playing days. It isn’t as if we didn’t play draw Tests. But in Karachi, Irfan Pathan had taken a hat-trick, it was very lively, brilliant seaming pitch. India won in Rawalpindi, again, a very seaming pitch,” he said.