Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Day 2: Pakistan hold firm after England bowled out for 657

Pakistan were 181/0 at the close of play, on day 2 of the 1st Test against England, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi - Imam-ul-Haq (90) and Abdullah Shafique (89) were the not out batters.

Match Summary

Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, England tour of Pakistan

Pakistan *181/0 (51 ov)

England 657/10 (101 ov)

Day Break : Day 2 Pakistan trail by 476 runs

Scorecard

Excellent reply from Pakistan ??

The openers remain undefeated on stumps ??#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/0kXjXYXJzF

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 2, 2022

Comment

Pakistan's pitches belonged in "the dark ages", the country's top cricket official said Friday, after England plundered runs on a lifeless wicket in Rawalpindi.

The visitors were finally all out for 657 -- including a record 506 from the first day Thursday -- with four batsmen scoring centuries off the hapless Pakistan bowling.

In reply, Pakistan's openers were nearing centuries of their own at close of play Friday with Abdullah Shafique on 89 and Imam-ul-Haq 90.

Ramiz Raja, a former national captain and now Pakistan Cricket Board chief, said he was "not happy at all" over the state of the pitch, which he admitted was "not a great advert" for Test cricket.

"We live in the dark ages of pitches in Pakistan," he told reporters, adding, "it's embarrassing for us, especially if you have a cricketer as chairman."

On the same pitch in March this year, some 1,187 runs were scored for the loss of just 14 wickets as Pakistan and Australia played out a tame draw.

Rawalpindi was termed "below average" by International Cricket Council match referee Ranjan Madugalle, who also awarded it a demerit point.

A venue is banned for 12 months if it accumulates five demerit points over a period of five years.

Pakistan has played little Test cricket at home for over a decade as security issues forced fixtures to neutral grounds abroad.

After the criticism earlier this year, Raja brought in Australian specialist Damien Hough, who suggested removable drop-in pitches as a solution.

"I think our way out is for drop-in pitches," Raja said.

"If you want to nail England, for example, we've got to prepare a drop-in pitch that turns from ball number one.

"It is better than having this hodge-podge where you get a half-baked pitch which is neither quick nor spin."

Still, despite the placid surface, Raja credited England with making the most of the conditions.

"I’ve never seen batting like England’s on day one," he said."

Playing XIs

PAKISTAN - Abdullah Shafique, Imam ul Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (C), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Agha Salman, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Ali-II, Zahid Mahmood

ENGLAND - Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (WK), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Liam Livingstone, Will Jacks, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, James Anderson

Match Details

Date - 2022-12-01 05:00 AM

Venue - Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

Toss - England won the toss & elected to bat

Umpires - Ahsan Raza, Joel Wilson

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