England tour of Pakistan for three-match test series got underway in Multan on Monday. The opening test is currently being played in Multan and Pakistan Cricket Board has already received flak from fans over wicket for this match. With the team suffering defeat to Bangladesh in the recent series, the pitch for the opening match of the seriesturned out to be a flat resulting in fans and former England cricketers venting out their anger
One on the fan even predicted about Indian crickleters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant scoring 500 runs in a single on such flat track. Not only the fans but even former Englansd skipper Michael Vaughan also criticised the nature of the pitch. Here's what Vaughan, Kevin Pietersen and fans had to say regarding the pitch in the Multan Test
Looks like a road in Multan .. Great toss to have won .. also nice to see @shani_official batting in what looks like Padel shoes .. #PAKvsENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 7, 2024
If Yashasvi Jaiswal & Rishabh Pant plays on such Pakistan highways, they'll easily score 500 each in a single day #PAKvENG#PAKvsENGpic.twitter.com/N1mMeM9Nts
— Ajeet Kumar (@ajeetkr03) October 7, 2024
That wicket in Multan – bowlers GRAVEYARD!
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) October 7, 2024
This guy got out of the car after seeing the road #PAKvsENGpic.twitter.com/S50v78YSAf
— Deepak singh (@Deepaks16615035) October 7, 2024
pic.twitter.com/MLXfNfGHeB
— England’s Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) October 7, 2024
Road ️ pitch in Pakistan, England may go beyond 1000 runs in a inning.
— Harimohan (@Professor_Meena) October 7, 2024
Pakistan batters demand flat pitch for opening match
According to reports Pakistan batters wanted a flat pitch at Multan Cricket Stadium for the first Test against England in what can be called as a desperate bid to turn things around in the home Test series.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali while revealing this piece of information, aaded that the former Australian pacer wasn’t pleased with the request and asked the batters to “shut up”.
“I will give you an inside story. Jason Gillespie has handed a shut-up call to Pakistan batters. He wants the pitch to remain the same that has been prepared by the groundsman,” Ali said in a video posted on his official YouTube channel.
Pakistan made strong start against England
After losing opener Saim Ayub to England pacer Gus Atkinson in the fourth over, Captain Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique have put the host in control of the opening test. At the time of writing the duo had stitched 157 runs stand with Masood unbeaten on 92 and Shafique playing at the score of 69 runs.