The Multan pitch has become a major talking point in the ongoing Test series between Pakistan and England, with former cricketers Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen expressing their dismay over the lifeless surface.
Pakistan opted to bat first on a wicket that offered little assistance to the bowlers, prompting Vaughan to liken it to a “road” on social media. He pointed out that Pakistan captain Shan Masood looked so comfortable at the crease that he might as well have been wearing “padel shoes.”
Pietersen echoed Vaughan’s sentiments, calling the Multan pitch a “bowler’s graveyard.” England’s bowlers struggled to make an impact on Day 1, with Pakistan piling up a solid score of 328 for 4.
Abdullah Shafique anchored the innings with a well-crafted 102, while Masood contributed a brisk 151 off just 177 balls. Gus Atkinson, Jack Leach, and Chris Woakes were the only bowlers able to break through the Pakistani lineup, but they found it difficult to extract movement or bounce from the pitch.
Pakistan’s decision to bat first on such a surface has been widely criticized, with many experts believing that it has given them a significant advantage in the match. The pitch has drawn further scrutiny because it appears to be offering no assistance to bowlers of any type.
The lifeless nature of the Multan pitch has raised concerns about the future of Test cricket in Pakistan. If pitches continue to be prepared in this manner, it could lead to a decline in the popularity of the format.
