Stung by the severe criticism over the flat pitch that led to a run-glut in the first drawn Test in Lahore, Pakistan Cricket Board has said that pitch experts would be consulted after the current series and pitches at Test grounds would be relaid, if necessary.
Reasoning that the cold conditions did not give the ground staff enough time to prepare a more bowler-friendly pitch, PCB chief Shaharyar Khan said "we are not going to blame anyone for the failure to have a good Test pitch in Lahore."
Stressing that the Board was concerned with the overall state of pitches in Pakistan, Shaharyar said it would soon consult former players and pitch experts to try and rectify the matter.
"The fact is we are now playing more domestic and international cricket at home in the months of winter. If there's a need to relay the pitch and square anywhere, we will do it as we want good Test tracks," he was quoted as saying by 'The News' today.
Pointing out that the last Test series against England was played on good pitches which produced good cricket, Shaharyar said PCB was keen to lure people to come and watch Test matches to revive interest in the longer version of the game.
{{/usCountry}}Pointing out that the last Test series against England was played on good pitches which produced good cricket, Shaharyar said PCB was keen to lure people to come and watch Test matches to revive interest in the longer version of the game.
{{/usCountry}}A few thousand spectators at best came to watch the weather-ruined India-Pakistan first Test at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, despite all the hype surrounding the current series between the archrivals.