'It’s helping destroy Test cricket' - Kevin Pietersen continues criticism over belter Multan track for PAK vs ENG Test

Pakistan skipper, Shan Masood, admitted at the toss of the first Test against England that the team had requested a flat track for the Multan Test. As a result, the hosts won the toss and piled up runs on Day 1 with Masood and Abdullah Shafique notching up centuries. As the England bowlers struggled to get wickets, former England cricketer, Kevin Pietersen raised concerns over the pitch.

Pakistan further kept on milking the runs and they posted 556 runs at the end of their innings. In reply, England too were less bothered by the questions Pakistan bowlers asked and batted with a run rate of over 5.00. Thanks to Joe Root’s 35^th century, England crossed the 400-run mark during the third session. Pietersen was quick to follow the developments and said that the wicket is destroying Test cricket.

Also Read: Masood becomes 17th Pakistan captain to score Test century

"Still a bowlers graveyard! If this wicket doesn’t crumble and produce a result, it’s helping DESTROY Test cricket,” Pietersen wrote on microblogging social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Check Pietersen's post on X here:

The ball shouldn't be turning that much: Pietersen

The veteran had also voiced his concern over pitch-aiding bowlers predominantly. The concern arose during England’s tour of India earlier this year. On Day 1 of the first Test in Hyderabad, Pietersen was taken aback when Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin managed to generate spin. As a result, half of the England team was back in the hut within 35 overs.

Also Read: Pakistan are a highly skilled side, not taking them lightly: Ollie Pope

"Look at the way Jadeja's first two deliveries turned. That's Day 1 of a Test match. The ball shouldn't be turning that much. It's not as if the ball was spinning and bouncing, look at the dismissals. (Zak) Crawley caught at mid-on, Root out sweeping. All the other batters... the technique was not good. It wasn't turning and bouncing that much,” Pietersen had said as quoted by NDTV Sports.