‘Even Scorecards in T20 Matches Read Better’ – Inzamam-ul-Haq Urged ICC to Take Action After Ahmedabad Pitch Controversy
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-Ul-Haq lashed out and said preparing a pitch like Ahmedabad ‘is not the right thing to do with cricket’.
The former Pakistan cricketer, Inzamam-ul-Haq has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take action after the pitch controversy during India’s third Test against England. The pink-ball Day-Night Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad ended within two days. It was the quickest Test win in 54 years. Many players voiced their opinions on the debate. Some were in deep criticism of the pitch while some said that the English batting needed to be better.
Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel earned praise for their deadly bowling skills. But speaking on his YouTube channel, Inzamam-ul-Haq refused to applaud their efforts.
“If Joe Root is picking up five wickets in six overs, you can imagine the condition of the wicket. Why should I praise R Ashwin and Axar Patel, when Root is picking up 5/8? Test matches have so many important elements, the venue, the ground, the umpire, referee, so a pitch should also hold some significance. Test match should look like a Test match,” Inzamam said.
Axar Patel ended up with figures of 11/70 on home turf, while Ravichandran Ashwin’s 7/74 saw him become the second fastest to 400 Test scalps.
Inzamam further said that the match in Ahmedabad was far from being Test cricket and the scorecard looked worse than a T20 match. Even as he accepted that the pitches should be made to take advantage of home conditions, he felt that the one in the Ahmedabad Test shouldn’t exist and urged the ICC to take some action against the Ahmedabad pitch.
“Even scorecards in T20 matches read better than the one we saw in Ahmedabad. The ICC should take action on this. What sort of wickets are these that a Test match cannot even last two entire days?
“17 wickets falling in less than one day, what are we playing on here? Sure, you take home advantage, spinning tracks should be made, but this sort of pitch I don’t think should exist,” Inzamam added.
The fourth and final Test is scheduled to get underway on Thursday, March 4 at in Ahmedabad itself. If India manages to at least draw the game, they would qualify for the final of the World Test Championship.