When we go to Australia, they don't make pitches consulting us: Imam

The Rawalpindi surface for the opening Test between Pakistan and Australia received its fair share of criticism and was also rated "below average" by match referee Ranjan Madugalle. A total of 1187 runs were scored for the loss of 14 wickets, with Australia managing to pick just four in 239 overs. However, left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq, who became the 10th Pakistan batter to score a century in both innings of a Test, said the hosts were just playing to their strengths.

"A draw is something nobody wants to see. Obviously when it's a five-day Test everyone anticipates a result. But when we go to Australian conditions, they don't make pitches consulting us but make it according to their will so I think we should see our strength and should live up to our strength.

"But in Karachi, we are looking for a result in our favour. I think the Rawalpindi Test was played well as we managed to get all 10 wickets. Unfortunately, 70 overs were not played out due to bad light and rain but had those overs been bowled the result could have been different because we intended to make them bat again."

Playing his first Test since November 2019, Imam made the most of this batting-friendly surface. The 26-year-old crafted 157 in the first innings and then followed up with a score of 111* in the second essay. Imam said he doesn’t care what the people outside have to say about him and wants to continue to do the job for his team.

"Regardless of my settled or unsettled position in the team or even whether I am performing or not, I will always be criticised. It's been nearly five years and 60 games I have played so far for Pakistan and yet I face criticism but I am not sad because that's very normal to me.

"My job is to score runs and the quality of innings should be judged on the basis of my intent. For me, my captain, my coach and the think-tank are the important ones and what they are expecting from me and how they rate my innings. 

It is not really important what people say from outside and what perception is made about me that doesn't matter at all and I don't care about it. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I respect that any judgement coming from the people in the dressing room is what is important for me.

"I didn't tell the curator to make a pitch according to me, nor is he my relative. It was the same for Australia, yet we got their 10 wickets and none of them managed to score 100. I didn't ask for the pitch so that I can score a hundred in each innings. 

"The Karachi pitch will be the same as it has been in first-class cricket and I won't be playing at it for the first time. But at the same time whatever Test I had played before this I played outside in South Africa, Ireland and England in away Tests. So whatever the pitch will be - either it's green, yellow or brown - my job is to play cricket and I will play and keep believing in my practice."

The second Test of the three-match series will be played in Karachi, starting from Saturday (March 12).