Cricket

Watch: Simon Doull bluntly questions if Babar Azam asks for flat pitches in Pakistan to improve his stats

Former New Zealand commentator Simon Doull asked questions regarding Babar Azam's involvement in preparing flat pitches in Pakistan.

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Daniel S
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Simon Doull, Babar Azam

Simon Doull, Babar Azam (Source: Twitter)

Pakistan and New Zealand are locking horns in the second and final Test of the series at Karachi. New Zealand are having a good lead of over 200 runs in the third session of the fourth day. After the first Test ended in a draw, fans are hoping for a result in the second Test. The pitch at Karachi received severe criticism on Day 1 as fans were unhappy with another flat track prepared for a Test in Pakistan.

Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull, who’s doing commentary for the series, asked a question regarding lifeless pitches being prepared in Pakistan on air on Day 3 of the Test. Simon went on to ask if there’s involvement of Pakistan captain Babar Azam in it and he deliberately asks for such pitches to improve his own statistics?

“And it comes to a Test match and it’s completely different. Where does that directive come from? Does it come from Babar who wants to bat on a road and improve his own stats. Does it come from above him?,” Doull said in the commentary box on Day 3 of the Test.

Watch the video here:

Doull also advised the higher authorities to let the ground staff do their job during the mid-innings show of the ongoing Test.

It offers nothing. There is no grass on it: Simon Doull

“Let the ground staff do their job properly. The people above, the hierarchy, have just got to leave their noses out of it. It offers nothing. There is no grass on it. There is no seam movement, and there is no carry,” the former Kiwi cricketer said on the Pitch Side show during the second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand.

“You are picking a guy like Mir Hamza who has a terrific first-class record. You pick guys who perform well at that level, but they come and bowl on this road. You can’t expect them to do the same job that they’re doing at the first-class level if you’re going to produce these types of surfaces,” he added.

Pakistan Cricket Board have been under fire since March 2022 when Australia toured Pakistan for a three-match Test series. The pitches have been heavily criticised during the subsequent tour of England where the three lions went on to score over 500 runs on Day 1 of the first Test.

Further, the Apex Cricket Body rated Pakistan’s Rawalpindi pitch as “below average” last month for the second time. Meanwhile, Twitter was abuzz with reactions on Simon Doull's statement. Here are some of the Tweets:

Babar Azam PAK vs NZ Pakistan vs New Zealand 2022-23 Pakistan Cricket Team Simon Doull