PAK vs ENG: ICC rates Rawalpindi Test pitch 'below average'

Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees 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.

This is the second demerit point for the venue after the pitch used for the first Test between Pakistan and Australia in March this year was also rated as “below average.”

Mr Pycroft said: “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. 

“Since there was very little in it for the bowlers, I found the pitch to be “below average” as per the ICC guidelines.” Mr. Pycroft’s report has been forwarded to the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Pakistan have already lost the series to England

Meanwhile, after England forced a result on the docile surface at Rawalpindi, a turner was offered in Multan Test. However, even then Pakistan faltered especially with the bat. Abrar Ahmed picked up seven wickets on Test debut in first innings but the hosts ended up conceding a sizeable lead with the bat. Their batters couldn't make a big score even though Babar Azam did well to score an aggressive fifty.

They had to chase down 354 in the fourth innings and Saud Shakeel led the way with the bat keeping the home team in the hunt. At one stage, Pakistan seemed favourites to pull off a heist, however, like they did in the first Test, collapsed to lose the game by just 26 runs and eventually concede the series with one game to go.