Image Source: Ramiz Raza PCB chairman
The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Pakistan now faces the possibility of being barred from hosting international games after receiving two demerit points for the treatment of the pitch during the first Test match between Pakistan and England. The pitch was deemed "below average" by ICC. The pitch for the venue was scrutinised for the second time in a row. The previous "below-average" rating occurred in March of this year during the Test match against Australia that ended in a tie. More points against the venue might be fatal.
"...the venue has now received two demerit points from consecutive Tests under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process and could be in danger of being suspended from hosting any international cricket if more demerit points are lost. Demerit points remain active for a rolling five-year period and when a venue accumulates five demerit points it is suspended from staging any international cricket for a period of 12 months," ICC said in a release.
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Englands thrilling victory in the first Test by 74 runs was the result of their brave and daring performance in every area. Many people, including PCB chairman Ramiz Raja, thought the pitch would result in something.
ICYMI: The pitch that was used during the first #PAKvENG Test in Rawalpindi was rated ‘below average’.
— ICC (@ICC) December 13, 2022
Details 👇https://t.co/TKM9A1OD5R
On Tuesday, match official Andy Pycroft announced his conclusions. "The surface was quite flat and provided almost no help to any bowler," "Pycroft remarked. "Because of this, hitters scored quickly, and both teams recorded high totals.
"The pitch hardly deteriorated during the course of the match. Since there was very little in it for the bowlers, I found the pitch to be below average as per the ICC guidelines," he said
In the Test matches, England scored 921 runs at over 7 runs per over. They also made history by becoming the first team in a Test match to score 500+ runs on Day 1. When only 75 overs of the first day of play had been bowled, they did it. In the first innings, Pakistans response wasnt too bad either. They finished with 579 and three of their batters hit hundreds. James Anderson and Ollie Pope received the ball to reverse in the final two innings of the second innings to nab a stunning victory. During the Test match, as many as seven batsmen reached three figures.
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