RAWALPINDI: The pitch used for the historic first Test between Pakistan and Australia here has received a “below average” rating from the International Cricket Council with match referee Ranjan Madugalle on Thursday stating that the surface didn’t “represent an even contest between bat and ball”.
Pakistan’s first home Test against Australia in 24 years ended in a tame draw on Tuesday with the hosts posting 476/4 declared and 252 for no loss in their two innings, and the visitors responding with 449 all out — a total of 1187 runs for the fall of just 14 wickets over five days.
Following Madugalle’s observation, the venue received one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.
“The character of the pitch hardly changed over the course of five days and that there has been no deterioration apart from the bounce getting slightly lower,” Madugalle said in an ICC statement.
—PTI

Press Trust of India