Australia vs Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez slams ‘slowest pitch’ used for warm-up game in Canberra

Newly-appointed Director of Cricket and interim head coach Mohammad Hafeez on Monday slammed the pitch that was used for Pakistan’s practice game in Canberra ahead of the three-Test series against Australia.

The surface prepared at the Manuka Oval for the warm-up game between the Pakistanis and the Prime Minister’s XI was on the slower side and vastly different from what the Shan Masood-led side are expected to face in the three-Test series.

Former Pakistan batter Hafeez wasn’t too pleased with what he described as the “slowest pitch” that the Aussies could have served to a visiting team.

“That was the slowest pitch a visiting team could ever play on in Australia,” he said. “As a team we are really happy with our preparations because we ticked most of the boxes.

“Everyone knew (the pitch wasn’t what we wanted), so there was no point of saying it again and again and raising the issue with Cricket Australia. The disappointment was really high because we weren’t expecting these kinds of arrangements. 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,” Hafeez was quoted as telling reporters in Perth on the sidelines of a training session.

Pakistan men’s team director Mohammad Hafeez’s media talk in Perth ahead of the first Test.#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/RLv2c8jWMx

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 11, 2023

The four-day game ended in a high-scoring draw with Pakistan captain Masood top-scoring for his side with an unbeaten 201 that contained 14 fours and a maximum, helping the visitors declare their innings on 391/9. As for the PM’s XI, Matt Renshaw boosted his chances of earning a recall back into the Test team with a patient 136 for which he consumed 337 deliveries, helping his team reach 367/4 in reply as the match meandered towards a draw.

Uncapped seamer Jordan Buckingham was the only bowler from either team to make a significant impact, collecting five wickets for 80 runs that included the wicket of former captain Babar Azam.

The upcoming Test series marks the beginning of the Australian summer as well as the dawn of a new era in Pakistani cricket. It will be Pakistan’s first assignment since Babar’s resignation from leadership across formats following a disappointment ICC World Cup campaign where they failed to reach the semi-finals yet again.

The first Test takes place in Perth starting 14 December while Melbourne (26 to 30 December) and Sydney (3 to 7 January) host the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests respectively.