Questions were being raised on the dead pitch of the first Test match played between Pakistan and Australia at the Rawalpindi Stadium. Now the ICC has taken action regarding this and has also given a demerit point to this pitch. Match referee Ranjan Madugalle has described the pitch as below average.
After 24 years in the first Test match played on this pitch, Australia had come to play a match on Pakistani soil. In this match, the fans were disappointed and had to be content with the draw. Only 14 wickets fell in the match and 1187 runs were scored while the third innings continued. Pakistan declared the innings after playing 162 overs in the first innings, in response Australia also played 140.1 overs. In the second innings as well, the hosts played 77 overs and lost no wickets.
Australia’s vice-captain Steve Smith also condemned the pitch. Captain Pat Cummins also did not describe this pitch as special. He had said that this pitch was made to spoil Australia’s pace attack. There was constant discussion in the media about this pitch being dead. No change was seen on this pitch even on a day of the Test match.
Match referee Ranjan Madugalle said, ‘The character of the pitch did not change even once in the entire five days. The ball continued to slow down after the bounce. There was neither pace nor special bounce in the pitch. Turn was not even on the pitch. In such a situation, both the pacers and spinners looked ineffective. I rate this pitch below average as per ICC guidelines.
Pitches are rated as Very Good, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor and Unfit according to the ratings given by the ICC. One demerit point is awarded for the average, three on the poor and five for unfit. These demerit marks are valid for the next five years. If a ground gets 5 demerit points, then international cricket cannot be held on it for a year. Wherein 10 demerit points are banned for 2 years.