The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the appointment of Tony Hemming as its new chief curator on a two-year contract.
The highly regarded Australian pitch expert will assume his role in Lahore on Wednesday (tomorrow). Hemming brings with him nearly four decades of experience in curating cricket pitches at some of the world’s most iconic venues. His resume includes stints at renowned grounds in Australia, such as Melbourne, Perth, and Tasmania. The veteran curator has also worked in Bangladesh, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Hemming served as the ICC’s Head Curator from 2007 to 2017, overseeing pitch preparation at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium – a venue that hosted Pakistan matches during a significant period.
A PCB official stated that Hemming’s immediate focus will be on preparing pitches for Pakistan’s Test matches against Bangladesh and England, as part of the ICC World Test Championship. Additionally, he will oversee pitch conditions for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which Pakistan is set to host, he added.
“The PCB is optimistic that Hemming’s extensive experience and proven track record will be instrumental in producing high-quality pitches that cater to both batsmen and bowlers while ensuring fair and competitive matches,” said Rafi Ullah.
In the past the PCB hired the services of foreign curators like Andy Atkinson to help improve the quality of pitches in the country but this is the first time it has offered a long-term contract to a foreign curator.
