Kevin Pietersen Criticizes Multan Pitch as ‘Destroying Test Cricket’

During the ongoing Test series between Pakistan and England, concerns have been raised regarding the pitch conditions in Multan. Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen expressed dissatisfaction with the nature of the pitch, labeling it as unsuitable for a balanced game of cricket.

The Multan surface attracted severe criticism from the onset of the Test match, with Pietersen referring to the pitch as a ‘bowlers graveyard’ on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “If this wicket doesn’t crumble and produce a result, it’s helping DESTROY Test cricket,” Pietersen asserted.

Pietersen’s comments echo the sentiments of other cricket experts who have shared their concerns about the pitch’s inability to offer equal opportunities to both batters and bowlers. Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan also voiced their frustrations over the pitch’s failure to accommodate bowlers, thus affecting the quality of the game.

The Multan Test saw high scores on the board, with notable performances from the Pakistani side. Salman Ali Agha scored 104 not out, Abdullah Shafique contributed 102, and Saud Shakeel added 82 to Pakistan’s formidable tally of 556. On the English side, Jack Leach claimed three wickets, while the visiting team tallied 472/3 in response.

The issue of pitch quality has been a recurring topic in Test cricket, with varying conditions often impacting the outcome of matches. This is not the first instance where Pietersen has been vocal about pitch conditions. Earlier in the year, he criticized the Hyderabad pitch for excessively favoring home spinners during a match against England.

Meanwhile, during the Multan Test match, England’s Joe Root achieved a milestone by surpassing Sir Alastair Cook to become the highest run-scorer in England Test history. Root reached the landmark with a boundary, accumulating a total of 12,474 runs to date.

Notably, England’s regular captain Ben Stokes was absent from the opening contest due to a hamstring injury. The series comprises three red-ball matches, with both teams aiming to perform despite challenges presented by pitch conditions.