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Pakistan will bid to break the four home series wind rought against New Zealand later this year after deciding to hand over the charge of preparation of pitches to a qualified foreign curator.

According to highly placed sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)has hired the services of Andy Alkinson, an England-born curator who ison the role of International Cricket Council (ICC).

Atkinson is scheduled to arrive in the country on a 10-day visit on April 2 to assess the squares of all the Test centres.

Atkinson is presently on an assignment in Sri Lanka and isconsidered the brain behind the success of ICC knock-out tournament in Kenya last year when he prepared excellent surfaces.

"It will be the second significant step towards building a solid infrstructure in the country," former captain and member of the PCB advisory panel Ramiz Raja said.

Atkinson, in his second visit, will conduct the soil testing of the squares" and the entire procedure, including the preparation of fresh pitches, will wind up in 12 months.

"Pakistan wants to have solid grip on pitches so that we know beforethe series that on what type of surfaces we will play," Raja said.

A qualified curator was also the requirement of Pakistan cricket whoprevious relied on untrained and unqualified groundsmen. While the cricketers own performances let the team down in the series against Australia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and England, the local curators areequally to be blamed for because the wickets they prepared were notsupportive to the home team.

Explaining Atkinson's assignment, Ramiz said he would return with samples of soils after his first visit and would begin the preparation of pitches on his second visit inside six months.

"After soil testings, he would know which stadia's soil can support fast bowlers and which can assist spinners. In that information, he would prepare pitches.

"For example, if the Gaddafi Stadium soil is ideal for fast pitches, only surfaces for quickies will be prepared. Likewise, same policy will be adopted for other centres.

"It would help us to play matches according to our strengths and oppositions weaknesses,"he said.

Pakistan are scheduled to host New Zealand in October while the series against the West Indies is slated for February next year.

© Dawn