Former PCB chairman criticises cricket pitches in West Indies

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has taken aim at the quality of cricket pitches in the West Indies, claiming substandard surfaces are a key factor in the region’s cricketing decline.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ramiz singled out the conditions in Trinidad, saying they fail to meet international standards and make it difficult for the home side to compete at the highest level.

“I have said before that West Indies pitches, especially in Trinidad, are substandard. This is why West Indies cricket is not progressing,” Ramiz Raja remarked.

The former PCB chairman added that most Caribbean venues suffer from similar issues and that such conditions are rarely, if ever, seen in major ICC tournaments.

He urged West Indies cricket authorities to take urgent steps to improve playing surfaces if they hope to revive the team’s past glory.

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“West Indies need significant improvement in their pitches. In ICC events, you will never find such pitches,” Ramiz Raja said.

The comments come after West Indies edged Pakistan by five wickets in a rain-hit second ODI in Tarouba.

The rain-affected match saw West Indies chase a revised target of 181 in 35 overs after Pakistan posted 171-7 in 37 overs.

Roston Chase (49* off 47) and Justin Greaves (26 off 31) put on an unbroken 73-run stand for the sixth wicket to take the hosts over the line in 33.2 overs and level the three-match series 1-1.

The decider of the three-match series is scheduled to be played later today at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.

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