Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Appeals Against ICC's Decision To Award Demerit Point For Rawalpindi Pitch

Published - 08 Jan 2023, 11:43 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM

Pakistan and England (Image Credits: Twitter)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), led by Najam Sethi, has appealed against the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to award a demerit point for the Rawalpindi pitch, which hosted the first Test match between England and Pakistan in December 2022. Match referee Andy Pycroft assessed a demerit point after deciding that the playing surface was “below par”.

Pakistan’s lifeless pitches have received a lot of criticism recently. Pakistan and England played a Test match at Rawalpindi stadium last month, and the Ben Stokes-led team scored 506 runs, which is the highest tally of runs scored on the first day of a Test, on Day 1 for the loss of four wickets. England won the match by 74 runs after a bold declaration on Day 4.

According to an ESPNcricinfo report, the appeal was filed by the new PCB chairman on December 26, 13 days after the ICC announced the sanction.

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Najam Sethi PCB. Photo- Getty Images. Pakistan Cricket Board. — Najam Sethi PCB. Photo- Getty

“The exact basis of the PCB’s appeal is not clear though one official with knowledge of it said there were “multiple reasons, supported by data, videos, reports” and a “long list” of other reasons,” the report stated.

It Was A Very Flat Pitch – Match Referee Andy Pycroft

The match referee, Andy Pycroft wasn’t too pleased with the surface as both teams scored more than 500 runs in the first innings. The match referee, after consulting with the on-field officials, rated the pitch ‘below average’.

“It was a very flat pitch which gave almost no assistance to any type of bowler. That was the main reason why batters scored very fast and both sides posted huge totals. The pitch hardly deteriorated during the course of the match,” Andy Pycroft wrote in his report.

This Is Not A Good Advert For Cricket – Ramiz Raja

Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja criticised the surface and slammed the curators for producing a poor surface.

“It is embarrassing for us, especially when you have a cricketer as chairman. This is not a good advert for cricket. We’re a better cricketing nation than this,” Raja had told reporters last month.

Also read: PAK vs NZ: “Disappointing To Walk Away And I’m Sure Pakistan Are The Same” – Tim Southee Says After Drawn Series