Naseem Shah urges management to utilize home advantage by preparing better pitches
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Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah has called on the team management to make better use of home conditions by preparing more favorable pitches for upcoming Test matches, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
His comments came after a high-scoring first Test against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where both teams' batters dominated the bowling.
The match saw Pakistan posting 448/6 in their first innings, with Bangladesh responding strongly with 565 runs, leaving Pakistan trailing by 94 runs at 23/1 by the end of the fourth day.
The flat pitch offered little assistance to the bowlers, leading to a run-heavy contest.
In a press conference on Saturday, Naseem Shah emphasized the need for bowlers to maintain passion and discipline, while acknowledging that the Pakistan bowling unit could have performed better.
However, he stressed the importance of making better pitches that could give Pakistan a significant advantage at home.
"Our management tried their best to prepare a good wicket, but we must now consider how can maximize our home advantage," Naseem said.
"Preparing pitches isn't something I can control, but if we can't produce green pitches, then we should prepare spin-friendly wickets. We need to think about this seriously."
Naseem’s comments highlight a growing concern about Pakistan's performance in home Tests.
The team last won a Test match on home soil in February 2021 and has since suffered a losing streak of eight consecutive Tests.
The ongoing match against Bangladesh, with its lack of assistance for bowlers, seems likely to end in a draw, further underscoring the need for strategic pitch preparation.
The young pacer’s appeal reflects a broader sentiment within the team and among fans that Pakistan should better utilize its home conditions to secure more favorable outcomes.
As the Test series continues, all eyes will be on how the management responds to these concerns and whether future pitches will offer the balance needed to help Pakistan return to winning ways.