Pakistan Cricket Board Calls Upon Ex-MCG Curator Ahead Of 3rd Pakistan-Australia Test

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has requested the services of ex-Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and ICC academy curator, Toby Lumsden, for a period of ten days in order to help in preparing the pitch for the third and final Test between Pakistan and Australia in Lahore.

Because of the furore over the surface at the Pindi Cricket Stadium which hosted the first Test between the two teams, PCB chairman Ramiz Raja has planned to begin changing the process of preparation of pitches in the Asian country.

The ongoing second Test has also turned out to be a similar surface. The Pindi surface already received a below-average rating and a demerit point from the ICC so the PCB will be keen to avoid such penalties in the future.

Therefore, Ramiz is planning to roll out drop-in pitches from Australia in Karachi and Lahore at the very least by the next year-end. The idea is also to help its players to get used to overseas pitches and thereby improve their performances on away tours.

Pakistan puts up a fight in second Test record run chase

Babar Azam scored a scintillating century while Abdullah Shafique gave him company as Pakistan forged a fightback on Day 4 of the Karachi Test. After being set a target of 506, the home team got off to a poor start, losing two wickets for 21 runs.

Babar, who has failed in the three innings so far, finally came to the party and stitched an unbeaten 171-run association with Shafique to keep the game and Pakistan’s hopes alive. It is still a steep chase as Pakistan needs 314 runs on the final day to secure an improbable victory.

The surface hasn’t deteriorated as much so the Aussies will be wary. The new batters find it tough to score and therefore, early wickets on Day 5 will see the pressure back on the hosts.

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