Urooj Mumtaz blames Babar Azam era for decline in Pakistan fast bowling

Former Pakistan cricketer Urooj Mumtaz has identified batting-friendly pitches in domestic cricket as one of the major reasons behind the decline of Pakistan’s traditional fast-bowling strength.

Former Pakistan cricketer Urooj Mumtaz has identified batting-friendly pitches in domestic cricket as one of the major reasons behind the decline of Pakistan’s traditional fast-bowling strength.

Speaking during a discussion with former England captain Michael Atherton, Mumtaz highlighted Pakistan’s pitch preparation as a significant problem. She argued that the conditions being produced for domestic and international cricket have increasingly favored batters, reducing opportunities for fast bowlers to develop their skills in challenging conditions.

According to Mumtaz, Pakistan’s fast bowling has historically been one of the country’s biggest strengths. However, she believes the impact of that strength has diminished in recent years, with the team struggling to consistently produce and maintain world-class fast-bowling performances.

Mumtaz also linked the trend to the period of Babar Azam’s captaincy, claiming that the preference for batting-friendly and flat pitches became more pronounced during that era. She said first-class pitches were also prepared with less grass, creating conditions that were more favorable for batsmen.

Such conditions, she suggested, can prevent young fast bowlers from gaining valuable experience. Bowling on pitches offering limited movement or assistance can make it harder for pacers to develop the skills needed to succeed in demanding international conditions.

She pointed to Shaheen Shah Afridi as an example. Shaheen was once regarded as one of the most talented young fast bowlers in world cricket, but his progress and effectiveness were affected following injuries. Mumtaz also expressed concerns about the current situation of Naseem Shah and a perceived decline in Haris Rauf’s pace.

The former cricketer stressed that the issue extends beyond international cricket. According to her, Pakistan needs to improve pitch preparation at the domestic and first-class levels so that fast bowlers regularly face challenging conditions.

Creating pitches that offer genuine competition between bat and ball could help Pakistan develop a stronger pipeline of fast bowlers. Such conditions would allow young pacers to improve their control, pace, movement and ability to bowl long spells.

Mumtaz’s comments have reignited the debate over Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure and the role of pitch preparation in developing the country’s next generation of fast bowlers.