Miandad says some Champions Trophy pitches dangerous

KARACHI, (Reuters) – Pitches being used at the  Champions Trophy in South Africa are “dangerous”, Pakistan’s  former test captain Javed Miandad said  yesterday.

“(With) the sort of scary pitches they have prepared for  such a big event it is not going to help the International  Cricket Council (ICC) or its members keep interest in one-day  internationals alive,” Miandad told Reuters.

“Some of the pitches they have played on can be ranked as  dangerous. The bounce is inconsistent. Balls are kicking up from  a good length. All this is not good for the survival of ODIs.”

Miandad, who played 124 tests and 233 one-day internationals  and is now the director-general of cricket for the Pakistan  board, said he was surprised at the inconsistent nature of  pitches at the Wanderers and Centurion grounds.

“The pitches at Centurion have made matches one-sided with  the side winning the toss having the advantage,” he added.

“The ICC is quick to monitor the pitches in member countries  but they also need to talk to their curators about the pitches  in the Champions Trophy,” he said.

The ICC moved the Champions Trophy to South Africa due to  security concerns after it was postponed from its original date in Pakistan last year.