Shaheen Afridi backs Pakistan’s home pitch strategy after ODI series win over Australia

LAHORE: Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has defended the team’s use of slow, spin-friendly pitches in its 2-1 one-day international series win over Australia, saying it is standard practice for teams to prepare home conditions that suit their strengths.

The surfaces used in Rawalpindi and Lahore drew debate among former cricketers and analysts, with some questioning whether they had been prepared too heavily in favour of the home side. Afridi, however, rejected that criticism after the series decider at Gaddafi Stadium and said home advantage remained an important part of international cricket.

Speaking to reporters, Afridi said

Every team prepares pitches that suit them when they play in their backyard to win,

and pointed to Pakistan’s recent tour of Australia, where his side had to adjust to fast, bouncy and seam-friendly conditions. He added

We played on green and bouncy wickets when we toured Australia under Mohammad Rizwan's captaincy and we won that series. You cannot offer visiting teams green wickets when they come here because we also have to maximise our chances of winning.

Afridi said the approach was not only about immediate results but also about helping players develop for future assignments. Referring to upcoming Test tours, he said

We have important Test series coming up in the West Indies and England, and some of these players will feature in those matches. These experiences can help them prepare for future challenges, including the ICC Cricket World Cup.

He also acknowledged that batting had been difficult throughout the series, adding

These were tough wickets, and scoring runs or spending time at the crease was not easy. We still have time before the next World Cup, and we will continue preparing pitches with different characteristics so that our players can adapt to all types of conditions.

Pakistan seal series in Lahore

Pakistan wrapped up the three-match ODI series by beating Australia by four wickets in the final match in Lahore on Thursday. Afridi led the bowling effort with figures of 3-30 as Australia were dismissed for 157, while Shadab Khan followed up his two wickets with an unbeaten 29 to help the hosts reach the target in 41.5 overs.

The result gave Pakistan a 2-1 series victory and a third successive ODI series win over Australia. Pakistan had won the opening match in Rawalpindi by five wickets before Australia levelled the series with a 41-run victory in the second match in Lahore.

Australia remained in the contest through left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, who produced career-best figures of 3-38 and removed Babar Azam for 40. Pakistan slipped to 112-6 before Shadab and Abdul Samad put together an unbroken 49-run partnership for the seventh wicket to carry the chase through. Samad finished unbeaten on 18 with one boundary, while Shadab struck the boundary that completed the win.

Australia captain Josh Inglis said

I thought the bowlers and the fielding group made a great effort to put us in a position to potentially win the game, but it wasn't to be in the end. We have some young and inexperienced guys so it's a great learning experience for them.

Australia lose last seven wickets for 38

Earlier, Australia chose to bat first after winning the toss but were bowled out in 42 overs. Afridi struck with the second ball of the match to remove Matthew Short, and was supported by Abrar Ahmed, who took 2-19, and Shadab, who claimed 2-28.

Inglis top-scored with 65 from 71 balls, hitting eight fours and a six. Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey made 19 each, while Adam Zampa scored 10. Inglis shared a 46-run stand for the second wicket with Labuschagne and added 52 for the third wicket with Carey, but Australia then lost their last seven wickets for 38 runs. Two run outs also hurt the tourists’ innings as Pakistan bounced back after their defeat in the second match.