WATCH: Kasprowicz apologises on air and changes words after realising Ramiz Raja’s directive
Former fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz made a small goof-up while commentating during Australia’s third and final Test against Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Earlier, if reports are to be believed, Ramiz Raja, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), urged the commentators to not discuss about the nature of pitches while being on air.
There have been plenty of talks on the nature of decks during the ongoing Test series. In the opening Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, only 14 wickets fell across five days and the game ended in a draw. Thereafter. Raja said that the hosts prepared the pitch in a way to deny the Australian pacers help from the surface. He also admitted that drawn Tests aren’t good advertisement for the sport.
The second Test at the National Stadium in Karachi also ended in a draw. But this time around, all three results were on the cards when the fifth day started. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam scored centuries and the Aussies fell three wickets short of a crucial 1-0 lead in the series.
Kasprowicz, in the meantime, called the Lahore pitch ‘flat’ despite the directive from the PCB chairman. It happened during the final session of the second day’s play when Abdullah Shafique and former Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali were batting in the middle.
Soon after he realised himself calling the pitch ‘flat, Kasprowicz apologised on an immediate basis and changed his words to ‘good batting strip’.
Here’s the video of Michael Kasprowicz calling the Lahore pitch ‘flat’
Have a listen to Michael Kasprowicz go into full panic mode once he realizes he’s called the pitches “flat” despite the PCB giving a directive to the commentators not to mention how flat they are… #PAKvAUS https://t.co/8Li0CsDRz3 pic.twitter.com/SUXn9N2q9v
— Darren Murphy
(@MrDMurphy) March 22, 2022
As far as the game is concerned, Pakistan are trailing by 301 runs at stumps on Day two. Imam-ul-Haq scored twin tons in the Rawalpindi Test, but has strained since then. Pat Cummins trapped him in front to cut short his stay in the middle. While Shafique stayed not out on 45, Azhar Ali remained unbeaten on 30 with one four and one six.
Australia, in their first innings, were bowled out for 391 in 133.3 overs. Usman Khawaja top-scored for them with 91 runs before Babar Azam took a brilliant catch in the slip cordon to remove him. Steve Smith, Cameron Green and Alex Carey also scored fifties for the Aussies.