Rawalpindi pitches receives the “below average” rating from ICC 2nd time this year, Chances of suspension.

For the second time in 2022, the Rawalpindi pitch has received a “below average” grade. The most recent rating comes after England’s record-breaking 506 run first day in the first Test against Pakistan earlier this month, which led to a 74-run victory for England.

Even though the game had a clear winner, the bowlers had a difficult time, especially during the first two innings, which saw seven hundreds and totals of 657 and 579. England scored at well above a run a ball in both their innings.

The PCB chairman Ramiz Raja had called the pitch “embarrassing” on day two of the Test match and said the match it generated was “not a good advert for Test cricket.”
ICC match referee Andy Pycroft seemed to agree with him while handing out a “below average” rating and a demerit point on Tuesday.

“It was a very flat pitch which gave almost no assistance to any type of bowler,” Pycroft said. “That was the main reason why batters scored very fast and both sides posted huge totals.

“The playing surface barely changed throughout the game. According to ICC standards, I considered the pitch to be “below average” because there wasn’t much to be had for the bowlers.

In March, when Rawalpindi hosted the first Test of Australia’s tour of Pakistan, and the bat dominated the ball to the point where 1187 runs were made over five days for the loss of just 14 wickets. Match official Ranjan Madugalle noted that the Test match did not “reflect an even duel between bat and ball,” giving that pitch a “below ordinary” grade as well.

Since then, Rawalpindi has accrued demerit points from a series of Test matches. A venue that accrues five demerit points will have its right to host international cricket matches for the next five years suspended. Demerit points are valid for a five-year rolling term.