Former England cricketers have lambasted Multan pitch during the first Test match against Pakistan for it’s batting friendly nature. Michael Vaughan, Kevin Pietersen, and Steve Finn voiced their concerns on social media, sparking debate about the lifeless wicket of Multan.
A Batting Heaven, a Bowler’s Graveyard?
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first, posting a solid 328 runs on Day 1. But the real story here is the pitch. According to Vaughan, the Multan track resembles more of a road than a cricket pitch. In his usual blunt style, he took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share his thoughts:
“Looks like a road in Multan… Great toss to have won… also nice to see Shan Masood batting in what looks like Padel shoes… #PAKvsENG.”
Kevin Pietersen chimed in with a bit more intensity, calling it a “bowlers’ graveyard” on X. “That wicket in Multan – bowlers GRAVEYARD!” he posted. According to him, the pitch is way too favorable for batting, leaving bowlers with hardly any room to breathe.
Steve Finn joined the criticism by comparing the pitch to a carpet laid out in a living room. He wasn’t too happy either, adding to the growing frustration among bowlers. “This pitch looks like a carpet laid in the living room. It’s not great to see that as a bowler,” he said.
Pakistan Dominated
While bowlers grumbled, Pakistan’s batters were having the time of their lives. Shan Masood, who caught Vaughan’s eye for his Padel shoes joke, played a brilliant 151-run knock off 177 balls, hitting at a strike rate of 85.31.
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His partner, Abdullah Shafique, wasn’t too far behind, smashing 102 runs from 184 balls. Together, the duo stitched a mammoth 253-run partnership, putting Pakistan firmly in control. On this batting-friendly surface, they made England’s bowlers toil without offering much hope of a breakthrough.
Why the Outrage?
The frustration with the pitch is easy to understand. Bowlers, both seamers and spinners, are getting little to no help from the surface. There’s barely any movement or bounce, turning the contest into a one-sided affair for the batsmen.
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Cricket fans love seeing runs, but when the balance between bat and ball tips this far, it takes the excitement out of the game.
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