"What Are We Trying To Prove": Ex-India Selector Fumes Over Pitch Controversy

The pitches used in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia have dominated headlines continuously with all three Test matches till now finishing within three days. The criticism got worse as the pitch in Indore was deemed “poor” by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and it even received three demerit points. Former India selector Saba Karim expressed his concern at the growing trend of spin-friendly pitches in the series and even wondered what the point of this strategy can be with respect to the spirit of the game. During a recent interaction, he lamented the lack of support for batsmen in the Indore pitch and said that an even contest will be appreciated by both fans and players.

"Australia have Steve Smith and India have Virat Kohli, arguably the top two batters in world cricket. But we haven't gotten to see their batting in this series. What are we trying to prove by making such wickets?" he told India News at the end of Day 2 play in the Indore Test.

"In our desperation to qualify for the WTC final, we have lost the spirit of Test cricket. We have No.1 and No.2 teams competing here. It would have been a joy to watch them play if the contest was between all aspects of Test cricket," the former India selector explained when asked about the controversy.

There was no twist in the tale as Australia turned the tables on India with an emphatic nine-wicket win in the third Test on a track that offered wicked turn and variable bounce, confirming their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Travis Head (49 not out) and Marnus Labuschagne (28 not out) survived some anxious moments before getting Australia home in 18.5 overs as the match got over in little over two days.

Wins in India come