Imran slams PCB over dead pitches

Imran Khan has blasted the Pakistan Cricket Board for preparing dead pitches for the current Test series against England.

In a further broadside, Pakistan's former captain criticised the PCB for the way they have judged Wasim Akram's performance, given the nature of the pitches.

"The surfaces are dead. They have no bounce. Pakistan has blunted its pace attack by making one (Waqar Younis) sit out and shattering the confidence of the other (Wasim Akram)," Imran said.

In the drawn first Test at Lahore, 958 runs were scored for the loss of 24 wickets and in the second Test at Faisalabad, which was also drawn, 1,025 runs were scored for the loss of 28 wickets.

"It is highly unjust for the cricket managers to scrutinise Wasim Akram's performance on these tracks," Imran said in defence of the all-rounder, who managed just two wickets at almost 65 runs each in the first two Tests.

Akram pulled out of the current third Test in Karachi before the match started, citing back spasm.

Imran, who led Pakistan to their 1992 World Cup triumph, said the cricket administration had a narrow vision and their present policies would dent the future of the team.

"Pakistan will tour England next year in May when the conditions would be cold and moist. At that stage, Wasim Akram and the rest of the pacers would be the match-winners and not Saqlain Mushtaq because he will get nothing out of the wickets," Imran said.

"Pakistan should have groomed and given exposure to the young fast bowlers rather than banking their success hopes on the spinners."

Mail Cricket Editor