Rawalpindi’s Playing Surface Is Rated Below Average By The ICC For The Pakistan Vs. England Test Series

The International Cricket Council gave the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium surface a rating of “below ordinary” on Tuesday because it did not provide any assistance to the bowlers during the first test match between England and Pakistan played there.

There may have been as many as seven centuries scored in the match, which England triumphed in by 74 runs after posting a record total of 506/4 on the first day of play.

The away team scored a staggering 657 runs in the first inning, with four of their batters reaching the century mark. One point of demerit was also assigned to the location.

This is the second point of negative feedback the stadium has received in the past eight months. It was determined that the playing surface for the first Test match between Pakistan and Australia, which took place in March, was likewise below average.

According to a press release issued by the ICC, “ICC Elite Panel of Match Referee Andy Pycroft has rated the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch that was used for the first match of the ICC World Test Championship series between Pakistan and England as “below average,” and the venue has received one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.” [T]he Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch was used for the first match of the ICC World Test Championship series between Pakistan and England.

Pycroft, in the course of his analysis of the pitch, stated “It was an extremely flat surface that offered almost little help to any bowler, regardless of their style.

That was the primary factor contributing to batters scoring very quickly, which resulted in both teams posting enormous totals. The condition of the field hardly deteriorated at all over the course of the game.”

According to the standards established by the ICC, “the pitch was below average in my opinion since there was very little in it for the bowlers,” he continued.

A venue receives one demerit point if the pitch is judged as being below average. On the other hand, a venue receives three and five demerit points, respectively, if the pitch is rated as being poor or unfit.

When a venue hits the threshold of ten demerit points, it is banned from staging any international cricket for a period of two years. On the other hand, when a location reaches the threshold of five demerit points, it is banned from staging any international cricket for a period of one year.