The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced free entry for the spectators for the remainder of two days (Day 4 and Day 5) of the first Test between the hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.
“The decision was made keeping in view of the weekend, which will allow families and students to turn up in maximum numbers to support their cricketing stars and witness action between the two sides. The ongoing two-match Test series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25,” the board said in a statement.
The board also decided to refund the amount for spectators, who had bought the tickets for the last couple of days of the Test match.
New curator
Earlier, Australia’s Tony Hemming has been hired as a new head curator by the PCB on a two-year contract.
Hemming will oversee the preparation of pitches for Pakistan’s ongoing home series against Bangladesh and upcoming series against England which are part of the World Test Championship Cycle.
Hemming will replace Zahid as head curator. The latter was chief curator from 2004 to 2020 and was reappointed in 2021 by former chairman Ramiz Raja.
The former on the other hand has worked at various grounds in Australia including Melbourne, Perth, and Tasmania (Hobart). Hemming was also head curator in UAE from 2007-17 and oversaw making of the pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan are placed in the mid-table in the WTC table and will need to win home games if they need to have a chance to make it into the final.
However, the pitches in Pakistan have been tilted in favour of batters which meant there have been too many draws in home conditions for The Men In Green.
Former New Zealand cricketer Scott Styris was critical of pitches in the past, “With WTC, you must win your home games to have any chance of making it to the final. When you think of Pakistan cricket you think of stylish batsmen and fast bowlers with genuine pace.”
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