Rashid Latif
Rashid Latif (Credits: YouTube screengrab/Twitter)

Rashid Latif said that Pakistan had a good opportunity to ‘market’ themselves in the first Test against Australia. Pakistan played out a dull draw against Australia in the first Test in Rawalpindi.

The condition of the pitch came under the scanner with many former Pakistan cricketers criticizing the lifeless surface at Rawalpindi, which saw only 14 wickets falling through the course of five days. Former captains Shahid Afridi and Salman Butt also criticized the Pakistan side’s intent, while legendary former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq hoped for better surfaces in the remaining two games of the series.

Pakistan vs Australia
Pakistan vs Australia Image Credits: Twitter

Rashid Latif Reckons Pakistan Are Playing The Series To Market Themselves But ‘Rawalpindi Pitch’ Harmed Cricket

On his official YouTube channel, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif also talked about the match in detail and insisted that Pakistan are not doing a good job in marketing their cricket.

“This series is different. This is not a series that we’re playing for winning. This is a series we are playing to market ourselves. Even if it goes 3-0, I would want that a 100 product is marketed as 150 product. But in the Rawalpindi Test, we sold a 100 product for 5, and it harmed our cricket,” Rashid Latif said.

Rashid Latif file image. (Photo: IANS)
Rashid Latif file image. (Photo: IANS)

Rashid Latif further pointed out that Australia had sent their no.1 team to Pakistan in a tour that is happening for the first time in 24 years, and Pakistan need to capitalize on the opportunity.

“Australia sent their no.1 team after 24 years, they’re coming straight after beating England 4-0. Their batters are in their top-10 in the rankings, so are their bowlers. We would’ve wanted to play good cricket, winning or losing is a different thing. We would’ve wanted to attract people around the world,” said the former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif.

“India, for example, are known for their turning pitches and many label them as lions at their own home. Sri Lankan pitches still support both batters and bowlers. We had a good opportunity with the pitch in Pindi. It is a brilliant pitch, it assists seam and there’s enough for batters as well,” said the former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif.

The first Test between Pakistan and Australia ended in a dull draw in Rawalpindi. Pakistan, batting first, declared their first innings on 476/4 before bowling the visitors out on 459. However, there wasn’t much time left in the game to induce a result after the Australian innings ended. The Pakistan openers, both of whom were unbeaten, batted the entire fifth day to ensure a draw.

Nauman Ali Took 6 Scalps While Imam-ul-Haq Scored Tons In Both Innings

Left-arm spinner Nauman Ali took a career-best 6-107 on the grassless pitch to give Pakistan a 17-run first-innings lead. Imam-ul-Haq followed his 157 in the first innings total of 476-4 declared with an unbeaten 111 in his first test since November 2019.

Imam-ul-Haq @ AFP
Imam-ul-Haq @ AFP

Imam-ul-Haq’s opening partner, Abdullah Shafique, also prospered to record his maiden test hundred and was unbeaten on 136 when Pakistan finished the fifth and final day on 252-0 in its second innings, leading by 269 runs.

A combined total of 1,187 runs were scored for just 14 wickets as the famed Australian pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood – with 674 Test wickets between them before this match – got just one more.

Pakistan 476 for 4 dec (Azhar 185, Imam 157, Shafique 44, Cummins 1-62, Lyon 1-161) and 252 for 0 (Shafique 136*, Imam 111*) drew with Australia 459 (Khawaja 97, Labuschagne 90, Smith 78, Nauman 6-107)

In the 2nd Test, Australia have scored more than 150 losing 2 wickets. Usman Khawaja has scored an unbeaten fifty while Marnus Labuschagne was run out without opening his account. Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith have steadied Australia’s ship against Pakistan on Day 1 of the ongoing second Test at the National Stadium in Karachi.

David Warner missed out on his fifty while Marnus Labuschagne was run-out on a duck. Earlier, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first.