Former fast bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz made a surprise visit to the National Stadium in Karachi to have a look at the pitch being prepared for the series-deciding third Test between India and Pakistan.

The pitch has occupied centrestage in the contest between the arch-rivals so far, with Lahore [Images] and Faisalabad turning out to be batting beauties, offering nothing to the bowlers at all.

Sarfaraz, considered as the pioneer of reverse swing bowling, had a close look at the green-top track.

He later asked groundsman Haji Bashir about the pitch and was told it had at least half an inch of grass on it and would play much more positively than the pitches prepared for the first two Tests, according to a report in local daily 'The News'.

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However, chief curator Agha Zahid did not speak to the former paceman.

"Before leaving Sarfaraz was heard telling Bashir that when the pitch was so well prepared what was the necessity for him and Zahid to come to Karachi and unnecessarily tamper with a good Test track," a source was quoted as saying by the daily.

How much grass is allowed to remain on the track after the arrival of the Pakistan team in Karachi on Thursday would be interesting to see.