Left red in the face over the flat pitch dished out for the first cricket Test against India, Pakistan Cricket Board has rushed its chief curator to Faisalabad to prepare a lively track for the second Test.
With the match here clearly headed for a tame draw, PCB does not want a repeat at Faisalabad, where the second Test begins on January 21, and has instructed Agha Zahid to ensure there is bounce and life at the track there.
"There is nothing in it and clearly it is not the sort that is an advantage to the home side," a PCB official was quoted as saying in The News on Monday.
"When you have some grass on the pitch the ball tends to hit the blades and deviates a bit and that is good for the pacers. But this pitch is totally flat, there is no movement or turn for the bowlers," the official said adding they were also worried on account of the weather.
Zahid, who alongwith curator Haji Bashir prepared the surface for the first Test, claimed that the harsh winter weather hampered their efforts to prepare a lively track.
{{/usCountry}}Zahid, who alongwith curator Haji Bashir prepared the surface for the first Test, claimed that the harsh winter weather hampered their efforts to prepare a lively track.
{{/usCountry}}The report also said that some of the Pakistani players themselves were averse to any grass being left on the pitch, which put pressure on the curators.
"Last time when India toured Pakistan and there was some grass left on the surface for the three Tests, the Pakistani players were not happy at all with the curators. This time we were told we should avoid leaving grass on the surface," a groundsman was quoted as saying in the report.