PAK vs AUS: We Sold ₹100 Product For ₹5 In Rawalpindi Test: Rashid Latif Slams PCB Over Below Average Pitch

Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif said criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the poor quality of the Rawalpindi pitch for the first Test. After batters from both sides dominated as a total of 1187 runs were piled and just 14 wickets fell in the match.

PCB drew a lot of flak from around the corner of the world for preparing dead wickets for Test matches. Even Australia skipper Pat Cummins and his deputy Steve Smith slammed the pitch.

PAK vs AUS: ICC gives Rawalpindi pitch ‘below average’ rating

Although PCB chairman Ramiz Raja defended the criticism over the pitch, the International Cricket Council (ICC) gave a ”below average’ rating to the pitch at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and the venue also received a demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.

PAK vs AUS: This is a series we are playing to market ourselves: Rashid Latif

It was Australia’s first international match in Pakistan after a gap of nearly 24 years and fans were left in disappointment after the match ended without any result. Latif, who played 37 Test matches for Pakistan, said the ongoing Test series is a marketing strategy for Pakistan.

The former Pakistan player said Pakistan failed to gain the home advantage by playing a formidable Australian side in the first Test.

“This series is different. This is not a series that we’re playing for winning. This is a series we are playing to market ourselves. Even if it goes 3-0, I would want that a ₹100 product is marketed as ₹150 product. But in the Rawalpindi Test, we sold a ₹100 product for ₹5, and it harmed our cricket,” Latif said on his YouTube channel. 

“Australia sent their no.1 team after 24 years, they’re coming straight after beating England 4-0. Their batters are in their top-10 in the rankings, so are their bowlers. We would’ve wanted to play good cricket, winning or losing is a different thing. We would’ve wanted to attract people around the world. 

“India, for example, are known for their turning pitches and many label them as ‘ghar ke sher’ (lions at their own home). Sri Lankan pitches still support both batters and bowlers. We had a good opportunity with the pitch in Pindi. It is a brilliant pitch, it assists seam and there’s enough for batters as well,” he added. 

The second Test match between Pakistan and Australia has got underway at the National Stadium in Karachi on Saturday. Australia were 100/2 before the lunch break with Usman Khawaja (52) and Steve Smith (7) batting for the visitors.

Also Read: PAK vs AUS 2022: If You Go To Australia, You’ll Never Get The Wicket Of Your Choice – Pak Batting Coach Mohammad Yousuf