• Hafeez criticizes the slow pitch provided for the practice match in Canberra.
• He expressed surprise and disappointment.
• Hafeez confirms raising the issue with Cricket Australia.

The director of the Pakistani team, Muhammad Hafeez, has expressed his dismay and astonishment at the strategies used by the Australian hosts in the run-up to their three-match Test series, which begins in Perth on December 14.

In an interview with Australian media, Hafeez revealed his surprise at the practice match pitch, calling it the slowest he had ever seen in Australia as a visiting team.

“To be honest we tick most of the boxes as a team but obviously really surprised and disappointed with the pitch we received for practice match in Canberra. It was the slowest pitch on which we can ever play as a visiting team in Australia. But as a team we are very happy with the preparations we had, most of the boxes are ticked and we are absolutely ready for the exciting challenge coming ahead for us,” Hafeez said.

When questioned about whether he raised the issue with Cricket Australia regarding the arrangements, Hafeez responded, “Everyone knew it. There is no point in repeating it over and over again. The disappointment was really high as we were not expecting these kind of arrangements but it may be their tactics but we are ready for that,” he said.

“We are here to beat Australia and not just compete,” he added.

Pakistan has reportedly been training on less bounce surfaces, particularly in Canberra, according to Australia’s coach Andrew McDonald. He intends to take advantage of this possible weakness by subjecting Pakistan to a bouncy Perth pitch.

“They’re coming from lower surfaces (Canberra) in their prep – so hopefully we can expose them on a bouncy surface,” he said. “No doubt, that’s an advantage.”

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