‘Don’t have that kind of soil in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka’- Pakistan batting coach Mohammad Yousuf on bowling friendly pitches
Pakistan cricket is facing a lot of criticism for the kind of pitches they make. Despite having quality fast bowlers in their squad, the 20-20 World Cup 2022 finalists refuse to make a bowling-friendly track.
Against England, who travelled to the country after 17 years, Pakistan laid as flat a pitch as a road for the first Test match. England went on to make the record for the highest runs scored on the first day of a Test match. Furthermore, they whitewashed Pakistan in the 3-match Test series bringing massive embarrassment to the cricketing nation.
The board vouched to change things going forward but it seems like they have failed to do so. The first match against New Zealand drew as batters prevailed over bowlers and the second one seems to be heading the same way. On Day 3, it is still Pakistan batting in their first innings after New Zealand made 449 in theirs.
When Pakistan batting coach Mohammad Yousuf was asked about why Pakistan fails to create a bowling-friendly pitch he had quite an intriguing answer.
“I went to have a word about the wicket in Multan they told me that we do not have the soil to make turning wickets in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. They need 30 percent clay soil, which they do not have. Even in the past, the wicket used to keep low and the odd ball used to turn like it happened today. There is no way to predict how the wicket is going to behave. If we can take the lead, New Zealand will be under pressure, “ Yousuf said at the end of Day 2 in Pakistan vs New Zealand Test match.
Yousuf hints at getting soil from abroad
“We have a young bowling side and you need an experienced unit for Test bowling, “ the former player said.
When asked about a possible solution, he said, “I think we should let the board know what kind of soil we want when we are hosting teams in the country.”
