SL vs PAK: Are They There For Time Pass? - Tauseef Ahmed Rebukes Pakistan Team Management For Selection Of Playing XI

Former Pakistan spin bowler Tauseef Ahmed lashed out at Pakistan team management for not playing three spinners in the first Test against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan outplayed the Lankans on a turning track at Galle International Stadium to record their second highest chase of 342 in Test Cricket.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the 1st Test with two core spinners

Abdullah Shafique was the difference between the two sides, the opening batter was unbeaten on 160 and batted for 524 minutes, the longest for any batter in a successful chase.

Sri Lanka’s rookie Prabath Jayasuriya was the one to implode Pakistan in their first innings and kept chipping with regular wickets including skipper Babar Azam’s in the chase.

Jayasuriya was bowling with fellow spinners Ramesh Mendis and Maheesh Theekshana with Dhananjaya de Silva providing an extra spin option to the hosts.

Don’t they know about the pitches and conditions: Tauseef Ahmed on the Pakistan coaching staff

On the other hand, Pakistan played Mohammad Nawaz and Yasir Shah as the only two spinners in the team. Sharpen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Hasan Ali played as the frontline pacers. Agha Salman and Babar bowled spin bowling in the second innings.

“This is not a criticism but we are pointing out mistakes. Sri Lanka are going with three spinners while we are playing with three pacers. Greats are part of the dressing room, don’t they know about the pitches and conditions? Are they there for time pass?,” Tauseef told Cricket Pakistan.

“Salman Agha is quite mature and is a proper batter, he is not an off-spinner. But here we induct players who can also bowl a bit and it needs to be stopped.

“Players having proper expertise must be included. I will also talk about Mohammad Nawaz, yes he took wickets and it’s appreciable but he is not a spinner who can bowl for a longer period. Looking at the pitch, Nauman Ali must be included,” he added.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan play the second Test between July 24 and 28 to decide the fate of the series.

Also Read: SL vs PAK: Weather Forecast And Pitch Report of Galle International Stadium in Galle- Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka 2022, 2nd Test