Pakistan’s pitches belonged in “the dark ages”, the country’s top cricketofficial said Friday, after England plundered runs on a lifeless wicket inRawalpindi.

The visitors were finally all out for 657 — including a record 506 fromthe first day Thursday — with four batsmen scoring centuries off thehapless Pakistan bowling.

In reply, Pakistan’s openers were nearing centuries of their own at closeof play Friday with Abdullah Shafique on 89 and Imam-ul-Haq 90.

Ramiz Raja, a former national captain and now Pakistan Cricket Board chief,said he was “not happy at all” over the state of the pitch, which headmitted was “not a great advert” for Test cricket.

“We live in the dark ages of pitches in Pakistan,” he told reporters,adding, “it’s embarrassing for us, especially if you have a cricketer aschairman.”

On the same pitch in March this year, some 1,187 runs were scored for theloss of just 14 wickets as Pakistan and Australia played out a tame draw.

Rawalpindi was termed “below average” by International Cricket Councilmatch referee Ranjan Madugalle, who also awarded it a demerit point.

A venue is banned for 12 months if it accumulates five demerit points overa period of five years.

Pakistan has played little Test cricket at home for over a decade assecurity issues forced fixtures to neutral grounds abroad.

After the criticism earlier this year, Raja brought in Australianspecialist Damien Hough, who suggested removable drop-in pitches as asolution.

“I think our way out is for drop-in pitches,” Raja said.

“If you want to nail England, for example, we’ve got to prepare a drop-inpitch that turns from ball number one.

“It is better than having this hodge-podge where you get a half-baked pitchwhich is neither quick nor spin.”