Pakistan’s interim head coach, Mohammad Hafeez, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the playing conditions of the Canberra pitch during Pakistan’s practice game ahead of the Test series against Australia. Despite some positive takeaways from the warm-up fixture, Hafeez openly criticized the slow nature of the Canberra surface, emphasizing that it was the slowest pitch a visiting team could experience in Australia.
Hafeez said
Hafeez acknowledged the team’s overall satisfaction with their preparations but raised concerns about the unexpected nature of the pitch arrangements. He stated, “Maybe it’s tactical, but we’re ready for it. We’re not using it as an excuse; we’re absolutely ready for the challenges coming up.”
Newly appointed Test captain Shan Masood performed exceptionally in the practice game, scoring a double century. Hafeez expressed confidence in Masood’s leadership abilities, highlighting his experience and management skills gained from playing county cricket.
The Pakistan squad for the series has faced scrutiny for its perceived lack of experience, particularly in the bowling department. With key players like Haris Rauf opting out and Naseem Shah recovering from an injury, the team heavily relies on Shaheen Afridi, with support from relatively inexperienced bowlers such as Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad, and Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Despite concerns about the bowling lineup, Hafeez expressed confidence in the team’s composition and emphasized their goal to beat Australia rather than merely compete. He stated, “As a team, we believe we have great talent within the team who can win in Australia. The guys are really hungry to perform in Australia.”
The first match of the three-match series is scheduled to begin in Perth on December 14, followed by Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
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