LAHORE, Sept 29: English curator, Andy Atkinson, on Monday stated that he had not received any special instructions from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to specially prepare pitches which would give advantage to Pakistan during the home series against South Africa.

Talking to reporters, at Gaddafi Stadium, Atkinson specified that PCB has only requested him to prepare good pitches.

Asked if he would keep in mind Pakistan’s home advantage for favourable pitches, he said that both sides were equally good in all departments of the game and there would be only difference in strategy.

Atkinson, who had prepared Pakistani wickets during the last tour of New Zealand team, said that he was on 27-day tour adding that only seven to ten days were enough to prepare a wicket and his arrival was not delayed. 

Atkinson commented that he preferred to prepare the wicket for One- dayers on which a good total could be scored. For Test matches, he said that the wicket should help the seamers in the early hours due to morning moisture before turning in batsmen’s favour. From the fourth day the wicket should favour the spinners.

To a question, he said that clay ingredient in Pakistani wickets was of international standard which is 50 percent.

Atkinson with Pakistani counterpart, former Test cricketer Agha Zahid and seasoned curator Haji Bashir will go to Faisalabad on Tuesday before moving on to Rawalpindi.

All eight matches of the series against South Africa — five One-day and two Test are being held at these three centres.