Inzamam-ul-Haq Slams ICC For Preparing Bowling Friendly Pitch For WTC Final, Says Batsmen Went ‘Invisible’

Former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for offering a pitch which was more suited to bowlers in the recently-concluded World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand at Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

Kane Williamson and co. beat team India by eight wickets on the reserve day of the rain-affected Test match to lift the ICC Test mace for the first time.

“This Test match was six days long, and out of that almost four days saw consistent rain and still it got over within 2.5 days. No one mentioned this that who gave the idea that such a pitch should be used for the World Test Championship final, where only the bowlers were visible but the batting side went invisible?,” questions Inzamam on his YouTube channel.

“I don’t understand is that for such a big game, how can you prepare such a pitch,” added the former Pakistan skipper.

Former Pakistan skipper isn’t wrong here as batting was really tough through the WTC final. With overcast conditions prevailing at the Ageas Bowl five out of six days, the situation was tailor-made for the bowlers and not so much for batsmen. India were bowled out for 217 and 170, while New Zealand managed 249 in the first innings.

Speaking more on the topic, Inzamam outlined a couple of alterations which could be followed to make the final more ‘fair’.

“My advice is that you make it two Tests, devise a points system, play one game in New Zealand or whoever is the finalist and the other in India. The result would have come out fairer in that case.

“If it were like the World Cup, where every match is played in the same country including the final, then it was different. So, it is just my opinion that in the future, the finals should be on a home and away basis, hosted by both the finalists,” said Inzamam.