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Rawalpindi Pitch Under Scrutiny As Pakistan-Bangladesh 1st Test Produce Snoozefest

Rizwan scored an unbeaten 171 in 1st innings [X] Rizwan scored an unbeaten 171 in 1st innings [X]

A lot was expected from the Rawalpindi surface in the ongoing first Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, but so far, it has turned out to be a snoozefest, with neither of the sides gaining an upper hand.

Pakistan created the buzz when they hired a pitch curator from Australia to take care of their pitches for all the home Test matches. The new head curator left a tinge of grass on the surface, which prompted Pakistan go in with four seamers for the first Test, however, the plan back-fired as the pitch worned out inside the first 20-overs.

Rawalpindi pitch criticised; turns out to be batting paradise

The surface was helping the pacers in the early going, especially when Bangladesh had plucked three quick Pakistan wickets, including Babar Azam.

But soon, the horrors of 2022 came true as the pitch got flatten out and became a paradise for the batters. Run-feast took over as Mohammad Rizwan scored a blistering 171*, Saud Shakeel scored 141, as the hosts posted 448/6.

Just like the Pakistan innings, the ball did enough for the first 15-overs when Bangladesh came out to bat, but as everyone expected, the pitch became the perfect play-sport for the batters, and with almost 3.5 days done and dusted, we are yet to see the start of the second innings, from either of the two teams.

"We can't do anything about the fact it [the pitch] didn't behave that way We didn't make a mistake reading the pitch, it just didn't play like we thought it should," Pakistan assistant coach blasted the Rawalpindi pitch.

At the moment, Bangladesh are 426/6 in their first innings, with Mushfiqur Rahim notching up a century.