'I have never seen a used pitch before': Ben Stokes mocks PCB ahead of 2nd Test in Multan

England captain Ben Stokes has taken a jab at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ahead of the second Test in Multan, expressing his surprise at the decision to use a used pitch for the match. Stokes quipped that he's "never seen a used pitch before" being used in back-to-back games, hinting that the PCB might be trying to give their team an advantage after the humiliating loss in the first match. 

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Ben Stokes mocks Pakistan cricket

However, Ben Stokes also acknowledged that using a used pitch could bring more excitement to the game, with more opportunities for spin and reverse swing. The England captain suggested that if his team were in a similar situation at home, they would likely ask their groundsman to prepare a pitch that suits their strengths. Stokes implied that the PCB might be trying to do the same, but in a more obvious manner.

“I think if we went 1-0 down at the home, we would probably be going to our groundsman saying 'can we have a bit more of this, bit more of that' to use our home advantage in our favour. If you look at the way that first Test played out, if another like that was produced maybe it would have given us more of an advantage just because of the way that we take the game on and how we play it,” Stokes said that the press conference. 

"Using a used pitch brings a lot more into the game for both teams, actually. So, if it does spin more, if it does reverse more, there's more options there for both teams. It could be a tactic, but I am not sure. I have never seen a used pitch before used in back to back games, and I have also never seen fans that big standing as umpires," he added. 

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The second Test in Multan promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams eager to gain the upper hand. Pakistan have already lost the first Test and are 1-0 down in the three-match series. Pakistan have made a few changes to their squad for the second and third Test. Babar Azam , Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah have been dropped.