KARACHI: Security personnel escort a convoy carrying Australia and Pakistan players for the practice session on the eve of their second cricket Test match at the National Cricket Stadium here on Friday — AFP While Steve Smith called the pitch in the opening Test as 'dead', Australia captain acknowledged that Pakistan had made efforts to nullify their pace-bowling attack.
As batters made merry on the track Australia spent 239 overs on the field before the ICC rated the track as below average, reports Cricbuzz.
A total of 14 wickets fell in the Test with Australia being able to pick up just four. Pakistan opener Imam ul Haq felt that had the full Test happened - and if time wasn't lost to wet outfield - the result could have been different. "A draw is something nobody wants to see," he started. "Obviously when it's a five-day Test everyone anticipates a result. But when we go to Australian conditions, they don't make pitches consulting us but make it according to their will so I think we should see our strength and should live up to our strength.
"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."
Imam became the tenth Pakistan batter to score a century in both innings of a Test and was key in ensuring Pakistan had the upper hand throughout the Test. In the first innings, he was involved in a century partnership with fellow opener Abdullah Shafique and a double century partnership with Azhar Ali. In the second innings, he made an unbeaten 252 with Shafique to ensure Australia were made to toil even further.
Imam, while taking a dig at his critics, said he's not bothered by the criticism that's directed at him. "Regardless of my settled or unsettled position in the team or even whether I am performing or not, I will always be criticised," he pointed out. "It's been nearly five years and 60 games I have played so far for Pakistan and yet I face criticism but I am not sad because that's very normal to me.
"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 judgement coming from the people in the dressing room is what is important for me.
"I didn't tell the curator to make a pitch according to me, nor is he my relative. It was the same for Australia, yet we got their 10 wickets and none of them managed to score 100. I didn't ask for the pitch so that I can score a hundred in each innings.
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 - either it's green, yellow or brown - my job is to play cricket and I will play and keep believing in my practice."
Australia are on top of the points table in the World Test Championship 2021-23 and are followed by Pakistan. The two teams will now meet for the second Test from today (Saturday} in Karachi.
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