Multan Cricket Stadium Pitch Report For PAK Vs WI 2nd Test

Anurag Dasgupta

Multan Stadium Pitch [source: @saad556/X.Com] Multan Stadium Pitch [source: @saad556/X.Com]

The stage is set for the second Test between Pakistan and West Indies at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The game is set to commence on January 25, Saturday as Pakistan will look to seal the series, having taken a 1-0 lead. The first Test also took place in Multan and it was a spin paradise as Sajid Khan, Noman Ali and Abrar Ahmad ran riot to destroy the Windies batting lineup.

The pitch was a graveyard for the batters as barring Saud Shakeel and to some extend Shan Masood, none of the batters from both the sides put up a big score. The game ended inside 2.5 days and it showcased the domination the spinners had on the contest. Pakistan batters need some confident and they'll be eager to put on a better show this time around.

Ahead or the second Test, let us look at how the surface at Multan Cricket Stadium will behave.

Multan Cricket Stadium Stats And Records In Tests

Criterion
Data
Matches played9
Matches won batting first5
Matches won batting second3
Average 1st innings score350

Multan Cricket Stadium Pitch Report : Is It Batting Or Bowling Friendly?

The average first innings score at this venue is 350, but don't get deceived by it, the pitches in Multan have changed a lot in the last one-year.

Pakistan used to prepare flat surfaces, but ever-since the loss against England in the first Test, they have started to dish out rank turners, something which we witnessed in the first Test Vs West Indies at the same venue. Expect the surface to play out on similar lines and don't be surprised if the game gets over inside 3 days.

The spinners will get help from the first session itself and the likes of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali will be licking their lips by looking at the surface. Batters will find it hard to play their strokes and only those batters who have excellent footwork against the spinners will come out with flying colours. Both the sides will go spin heavy to counter each other at this venue.

Players To Watch Out For At Multan Cricket Stadium Pitch Report 

Sajid Khan

Sajid Khan has been a revelation ever since Pakistan started to dish out spin friendly wickets. Even against West Indies at the same venue in first Test, he was at his vicious best and scalped 9 wickets to punish the Windies batters. He is once again going to torment their batters at this spin-friendly venue.

Shan Masood

In the second innings of the first Test, someone needed to counter the West Indian spinners and captain Shan Masood provided just that. He played an attacking knock of 52 off 70 and on a graveyard for the batters, put the pressure back on the Windies bowlers, something which he'll like to do once again.

Jomel Warrican 

The only shining light for the West Indies side in the first Test was Jomel Warrican. He picked up 10 wickets in the clash, including a 7-wicket haul in the second innings. The Pakistan batters struggled against him and the trend is likely to continue in the second game as well.