“Batters dream”: Mitch McClenaghan compares flat Karachi pitch for Test match to a road

The pitch at the National Stadium in Karachi for the 1st test between Pakistan and New Zealand was criticized a lot for its very flat nature. There were a lot of talks about improving the wicket for the 2nd test to see an even encounter between the bat and the ball, but nothing has changed.

The 2nd test in Karachi started today, where New Zealand won the toss, and non-surprisingly, they opted to bat first. There was a bit of a greenish tinge on the track, but there was absolutely nothing for the bowlers. Both Kiwi openers played with ease, and at the lunch break, the Blackcaps were 119-0.

It has to be said that the test pitches in Pakistan have been really poor in the last calendar year. It started from the Australian series, and it is continued in this series as well. England made the match out of nothing because of their aggressive approach, which is very tough to replicate.

Mitch McClenaghan compares flat Karachi test pitch to a road

New Zealand pacer Mitchell McClenaghan compared the pitch in Karachi for the 2nd road to a flat road where there is absolutely nothing for the bowlers. He has called it a dream track for the batters.

“What an absolute road. Batters dream! #PAKvNZ,” Mitchell McClenaghan tweeted.

Shahid Afridi, who has been named the Chief Selector of Pakistan cricket met the pitch curator ahead of the 2nd test in Karachi, where he gave instructions about making a sporting pitch. He even said to the press that sporting pitches should be made in order to have some exciting cricket so that the fans can enjoy it as well.

“Our plan is that our team should play strong and positive cricket. Pitches should be prepared to support that type of exciting cricket so that fans can come and enjoy themselves,” Shahid Afridi said in a media interaction.

There was some visible grass on the wicket ahead of the first day of the Karachi test, but it did not help at all. Pakistan even played an extra pacer looking at the pitch, but the decision certainly did not pay off. New Zealand stuck to their plans of playing with two pacers and two spinners, and they brought in Matt Henry for Neil Wagner.