Azhar Ali criticises spin-friendly pitches after Pakistan’s ODI series win

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has criticized the preparation of spin-friendly pitches used during Pakistan’s ODI series against Australia, saying the surfaces made batting extremely difficult and prevented a fair assessment of players’ performances.

Speaking on the sports program Sports Room, Azhar said the series was challenging for batters not only against spin bowlers but also against the pace attack.

He noted that Australian fast bowler Ellis troubled batters by delivering off-cutters from a long run-up, making stroke play difficult even against the seamers.

“These pitches did not allow batters to score freely against either spin or pace,” Azhar said, adding that the surfaces limited scoring opportunities and made it hard to maintain a healthy strike rate.

The former skipper also defended young batters, including Moaz Sadaqat, saying the conditions were particularly tough for emerging players.

“If these had been batting-friendly wickets, we could have properly evaluated their performances,” he said. “Under such difficult conditions, it is unfair to be overly critical of the batters.”

Azhar further questioned Pakistan’s long-term preparation strategy, arguing that success in home series has often failed to translate into strong performances at major international tournaments.

“It doesn’t matter whether the opposition fields a full-strength side or a second-string team  you have to play whoever is in front of you,” he said. “But before World Cups, we often talk about our good rankings and strong form. Then, when the tournament begins, it feels as if other teams have brought their best players while we struggle to compete.”

He added that the trend has continued over several series, with Pakistan winning at home but failing to make a significant impact in major ICC events.