Pakistan batter Imam-ul-Haq on Thursday dismissed the criticism of the Rawalpindi pitch the place the primary Test was performed, insisting that the hosts have been enjoying to their strengths and that the wicket was the identical for each groups.
The lifeless pitch in Rawalpindi turned a speaking level after solely 14 wickets fell throughout 5 days within the first Test. While Pakistan managed to take all 10 Australian wickets within the first innings, Australia may choose up solely 4 in whole, because the hosts made 476 for 4 and 252 for no loss earlier than the match resulted in a tame draw.
During the method, Imam turned solely the tenth Pakistan batter — and the third opener — to attain a century in each innings of a Test. Imam and Abdullah Shafique additionally set a brand new file for many runs scored by a gap pair towards Australia.
After the sport resulted in a draw, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins urged that the lifeless pitch was made to nullify the guests’ tempo assault. Later, PCB chairman Ramiz Raja additionally admitted the match “wasn’t a very good commercial” for cricket and said he understood the frustration of fans but stressed that, “just for the heck of it, we can’t prepare a fast pitch or a bouncy pitch and put the game in Australia’s lap”.
However, the Pakistan opener questioned the critics of pitch, saying whether or not Australia would ever put together their pitches at residence after consulting the opponent.
“A draw is one thing no person needs to see. Obviously when it’s a five-day Test everybody anticipates for a end result. But once we go to Australian circumstances, they don’t make pitches consulting us however make it in response to their will so I feel we must always see our energy and may reside as much as our energy,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Imam as saying.
“But in Karachi, we are looking for a result in our favour. I think the Rawalpindi Test was played well as we managed to get all 10 wickets. Unfortunately, 70 overs were not played out due to bad light and rain but had those overs been bowled the result could have been different because we intended to make them bat again,” he added.
Playing a Test at residence for the very first time, Imam stored his focus intact on a sluggish pitch and in addition confronted Australian spinner, Nathan Lyon, with out a lot fuss. But the batter feels that he nonetheless shall be criticised.
“Regardless of my settled or unsettled place within the group and even whether or not I’m performing or not, I’ll all the time be criticised. It’s been almost 5 years and 60 video games I’ve performed to this point for Pakistan and but I face criticism however I’m not unhappy as a result of that’s very regular to me,” Imam said.
“My job is to score runs and the quality of innings should be judged on the basis of my intent. For me, my captain, my coach and the think-tank are the important ones and what they are expecting from me and how they rate my innings. It is not really important what people say from outside and what perception is made about me that doesn’t matter at all and I don’t care about it.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I respect that any judgment coming from the people in the dressing room is what is all-important for me,” he added.
Imam additionally insisted that he didn’t inform the curator to make a pitch in response to him and the monitor was the identical for each the groups.
“I didn’t inform the curator to make a pitch in response to me, neither is he my relative. It was the identical for Australia, but we acquired their 10 wickets and none of them managed to attain 100. I didn’t ask for the pitch in order that I can rating 100 in every innings,” he said.
“The Karachi pitch will be the same as it has been in first-class cricket and I won’t be playing at it for the first time. But at the same time whatever Test I had played before this I played outside in South Africa, Ireland and England in away Tests. So whatever the pitch will be — whether it’s green, yellow, or brown — my job is to play cricket and I will play and keep believing in my practice,” he added.
The second Test begins from March 12 in Karachi, the place within the final 5 years the spinners have taken 275 first-class wickets at 33.16 whereas quick bowlers have dominated with a greater common of 31.44 and 499 wickets.
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