The biggest talking point during the Karachi ODI was the nature of the wicket in use — flat and devoid of any life — which became a graveyard for the bowlers with more than 693 runs being scored on Saturday. It’s attracted a great deal of criticism, but the man at the centre of it all, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s English consultant curator Andy Atkinson doesn’t agree with any of these assessments.Saurav Ganguly and Inzamam-Ul Haq, restrained by the ICC code, made a toned-down plea for ‘better and sporting wickets’. ‘‘After Lahore and Karachi, I am sure that the wickets will be absolutely flat during the series,’’ said Ganguly at the end of the match. His coach John Wright too has predicted a high-scoring series.But Atkinson — now in town to look after the preparations at the Pindi Cricket Ground for Tuesday’s match, seemed pretty relaxed when he approached by The Indian Express. ‘‘Please don’t ask me anything about this track. Because I cannot predict a score,’’ he says while relyaing instructions to the local groundsman.So the focus was reverted back to the Karachi match which, Atkinson claimed, was ‘‘very fair’’ and in tune with the kind generally offered for one-day cricket. ‘‘For the past decade the wickets in one-day cricket are tailor-made to suit batsmen. This is because people come to watch fours and sixes and nothing else. Pitches are supposed to be like this.’’So does that mean sides should pack their teams with only batsmen? ‘‘No, I am not saying that. What I am saying is the bowlers must put the ball in one place and kept it simple and tight.’’However, the batting-friendly wicket isn’t to the liking of those who say it produces an unfair contest. Mention this to Atkinson, though, and he bristles.‘‘Which match were you watching? Wasn’t that (Karachi ODI) a contest? The batsmen enjoyed themselves and that is what one-day cricket was invented. If I am wrong ask the 33,000 who turned up at Karachi whether I am wrong or anyone watching it on television if I am wrong. I think 99 per cent of the people will agree with me.’’According to Atkinson, the Karachi game was a ‘‘once in two-three years’’ game. ‘‘When did you last see such a game. It is good for the game if we have such encounters.’’Atkinson does not feel for the bowlers and says their turn will come in the Tests.‘‘You want a contest, wait till the Tests. It is more of a connoisseur’s delight and the bowlers will have a good time then. But here the rules are simple:just keep it tight and put the ball in the right place.’’Having said this much, Atkinson, who just has finished a stint with the ICC during last month’s under-19 World Cup, asserted that there is no guarantee that every match will see tall scores. ‘‘It’s highly unlikely that you will get to see such tall scores again. But runs are what matters.’’
