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PAK vs AUS | 2nd Test: After Rawalpindi pitch fiasco, focus shifts to Karachi & 'result'

It was a run feast during the first Test between Pakistan and Australia in Rawalpindi as the two teams together amassed more than 1100 runs during the course of the match before it ended in a draw. The Australian bowling unit was frustrated a bit more as they could only manage to pick 4 wickets and that too only in the first innings. 

The Test consisted of almost everything, runs, rain, centuries except the wickets & a result. The pitch at the Rawalpindi stadium received a lot of criticism as it certainly had nothing on offer for the bowlers. In fact, the track has now been rated as "below average", and the venue also received a demerit point.

"The character of the pitch hardly changed over the course of five days and that there has been no deterioration apart from the bounce getting slightly lower. The pitch did not have a great deal of pace and bounce in it for the seamers nor assisted the spinners as the match progressed. In my view this does not represent an even contest between bat and ball. Therefore, in keeping with the ICC guidelines, I rate this pitch as below average," Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle stated in his match report. 

Well, all said and done, the action now shifts to Karachi where the two sides will lock horns with each other in the second Test, scheduled to begin from March 12, 2022. 

Match Details

Match: Pakistan vs Australia, 2nd of three Tests

Date: 12 March 2022

Time: 10:30 AM IST

Venue: National Stadium, Karachi

Telecast: Sony Sports Network

Pitch Report

The track in Karachi could assist the batters but it is expected to have something on offer for the spinners as the game progresses. With some quality spinners in both the line ups, we can expect a result in this clash. But for now, if you win the toss, bat first. 

Team News

Australia: Australia have roped in Mitchell Swepson in the XI and the spinner will be making his Test debut for Australia. “He’s pumped and to be honest, we’re all pumped for ‘Swepo’. It’s been a long time running drinks over the last couple of years, but he’s absolutely ready,” said Cummins. 

“He’s been a huge part of the squad, even though he hasn’t been playing. So we’re really excited to see him get a chance. The wicket here is a little bit drier and historically a bit friendlier for the spinners,” added Cummins. 

Pakistan: The Pakistan batters are in terrific form, with Imam-ul-Haq scoring twin tons in the first encounter while Azhar Ali notching up a century in the first innings and Abdullah Shafique in the second. Nauman Ali was the pick of the bowlers for the side after he scalped six wickets in the first innings. 

Probable XI

Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Swepson, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi

Fantasy XI

Alex Carey, Mohammad Rizwan, David Warner, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Marnus Labuschagne (VC), Pat Cummins, Shaheen Afridi (C), Mitchell Swepson 

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ICC rates Rawalpindi pitch as below average, given demerit point

ICC rated the pitch used for the first Test between Pakistan vs Australia at Rawalpindi as "below average", and the venue received a demerit point. After a dull draw at Karachi, Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle rated the pitch where the bowlers found it difficult to pick wickets. "The character of the pitch hardly changed over the course of five days and that there has been no deterioration apart from the bounce getting slightly lower. The pitch did not have a great deal of pace and bounce in it for the seamers nor assisted the spinners as the match progressed. In my view this does not represent an even contest between bat and ball. Therefore, in keeping with the ICC guidelines, I rate this pitch as below average," Madugalle stated in his match report. In ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, one demerit point is allocated to pitches rated below average by match referees. If a surface is declared poor and unfit, the venue will receive three and five demerit points. Demerit points will remain active for five years. Also, if a venue accumulates five demerit points or more. In that case, it will be banned from hosting international cricket for a span of twelve months. If a venue earns ten or more demerit points, it will be suspended from staging international cricket for 24 months. Meanwhile, PCB chief Rameez Raja had a different take on the matter. Raja conceded that the pitch was prepared to nullify the Australian bowling attack while understanding the fans' frustration. "Just for the heck of it, we can't prepare a fast pitch or a bouncy pitch and put the game in Australia's lap ... It's important that when we play at home, we play to our strengths," Raja commented. The 2nd Test will kick off at Karachi on Saturday.