October 15, 2024: Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali criticized Pakistan’s pitch curator, Tony Hemming, after Pakistan’s crushing defeat by England in the first Test match in Multan.
Basit expressed his frustration, stating that Hemming, despite his credentials and previous ICC experience, failed to prepare a suitable pitch. He expected the surface to offer spin by the second day, but it remained unfavorable for spinners throughout the match. Pakistan’s spin-heavy bowling attack, including Abrar Ahmed, struggled to extract any turn, with Abrar going wicketless despite bowling 35 overs.
Basit contrasted this situation with India’s ability to prepare pitches tailored to their strengths, implying Pakistan should adopt a similar approach. He lamented that the poor pitch conditions were making Pakistan the subject of mockery in the cricketing world. The 53-year-old emphasized that a well-prepared pitch is crucial for a spin-oriented team like Pakistan, particularly when playing against a strong side like England.
