Former Pakistan cricketer Bazid Khan has stated that the England Cricket Board (ECB) dishes out pitches in a different manner when India tours their country so that the Test can last for five days.
Speaking on the Outside Edge show, Bazid went on to add that other countries visiting England get a completely different treatment, as those Tests end in three days. Notably, his comments came after Pakistan suffered a 0-2 Test series defeat to England.
“When India go to England for a Test series, they get pitches that make the game last all five days. Every Test match with India lasts five days. Why? Because if it ends early, there will be a financial hit to the wallet of the board. Any other team goes to England, the Test ends in three days. It’s not like the nature of the pitch changed. You are creating pitches that way that the game would last five days for India games,” Bazid said on Outside EDGE.
“When India come for a tour, it’s a money-making opportunity. This is not an ICC call. These are bilateral tours,” he added.
India last toured England in 2025 under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, levelling the five-match series 2-2 after playing all 25 days. On the other hand, Pakistan’s current tour of England saw the visitors suffer an innings defeat in the first Test at Headingley, which concluded in three days. Later in the second Test at Lord’s in London, England bagged a 194-run win on the fourth day.
Pakistan’s updated Test squad for the third Test vs England:
Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Fazal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk), Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
