The former Pakistan batter Shoaib Maqsood has taken aim at the management of the Pakistani team and its head coach, Mike Hesson, owing to Australia's victory by 41 runs in the ODI series match in Lahore.
The controversy started due to the difficult batting pitch in Lahore that helped Australia win the match. There was lots of turn on the pitch, which made batting very tough for both the teams.
Australia batted first and played all 50 overs to score 231 runs, a score which turned out to be more than adequate on a pitch that offered plenty of turn to spinners.
Pakistan's chase fell apart quickly as Australian spinner Matt Kuhnemann struck early. The openers were dismissed in the first two overs itself, and the home team went down to 58 for five in the 12th over.
Although Shadab Khan played a resilient innings of 71 runs, wickets kept tumbling around him. Once he was dismissed by Tanveer Sangha, the Pakistan innings was all out in the 44th over.
Maqsood Questions Pakistan's Approach
Soon after the match, Maqsood took to social media to express his disappointment with the conditions that are being prepared in Pakistan.
He wrote, "These conditions are neither Good for your spinners, pacers, nor for your batters in terms of preparing for the World Cup. The only thing we are trying to achieve is probably a Trophy or a job extension #AUSVSPAK."
His comments quickly gained traction and added fuel to the ongoing debate about Pakistan's preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Mike Hesson Defends the Pitch Strategy
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson defended the preparation of spin-friendly wickets and added that the team needs to learn how to perform in all kinds of conditions.
He said:
"We certainly showed before the World Cup out here that we were capable on these surfaces with the bat. We haven't quite shown that yet in one-day cricket. And that's going to be our challenge heading into the World Cup, where, you know, some pitches will provide surfaces like this."
Hesson further emphasized the fact that Pakistan will play in a number of countries leading up to the World Cup.
"We also know that we are playing a heap of matches in different countries leading up to the World Cup. We'll play on some bouncy ones; we'll play on some flat ones. And as a team, we have to pick a 15 that's suitable for all of those conditions, not just short, not just fast and bouncy, either."
The discussion around Pakistan's pitch strategy is likely to continue as the team looks ahead to future international assignments and preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.