International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday rated the surface for the first Test between Pakistan and England as below ordinary and as a result, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was assessed one demerit point.
International Cricket Council (ICC) has declared the pitch of the first Test match played between Pakistan and England in Rawalpindi as sub-standard.
In the first innings of the first Test of the historic series between Pakistan and England, England scored 657 all out and declared the second innings at 264 runs for the loss of 7 wickets and won the match by 74 runs. Pakistan had scored 579 runs in the first innings while they were dismissed for 268 runs in the second innings.
Andy Pycroft of the governing body Elite Panel of Match Referees has said that it was a very flat pitch that did not help any bowler. He said that it was the main reason why the batsmen scored very fast and both teams posted huge scores.
Pycroft also said that the pitch was very bad during the match as there was no help for the bowlers and therefore he had found the pitch to be below average according to the ICC guidelines.
Recently Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja has also called the pitch shameful saying that it was not a good sign for cricket.
In March the International Cricket Council (ICC) declared the wicket of the first Test between Pakistan and Australia in Rawalpindi as sub-standard and the match referee gave a demerit point to the ground. Pakistan had declared 476 for four in the first innings thanks to centuries from Imam-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali in response to which Australia also scored 459 runs in the first innings. Pakistani openers scored 252 runs without any loss in the second innings and the match was drawn.
If a cricket ground is awarded 5 demerit points it could be suspended for hosting the match for one year and similarly, if 10 demerit points would be given then it could be suspended for two years.
