After the International Cricket Council (ICC) declared the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch “below ordinary” and penalized it with one demerit point, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued an official statement.
While promising future improvements to pitches, a PCB representative stated that the cricket board accepts the ICC’s judgment and penalties. It’s worth noting that this is the first occasion the International Cricket Council (ICC) has sanctioned a Pakistani pitch.
The ICC suspends the venue from hosting international cricket matches for a period of 12 months once it accumulates five demerit points over a five-year period. A penalty of 24 months is imposed for 10 demerit points.
“We note and accept the ICC’s decision. This is the first time any Pakistan venue has received a demerit point. The PCB wants to see and prepare pitches that provide an even and exciting contest between the bat and the ball. In this regard and in line with the PCB Chairman’s vision, a massive project to overhaul and relay all pitches in Pakistan is already underway.”
They also want to give result-oriented wickets and fascinate fans with entertaining contests, according to the spokeswoman. He also stated that PCB chairman Ramiz Raja is eager to enhance Pakistan’s pitch conditions.
Last year, the Pakistan Cricket Board and Arif Habib Group agreed to build two drop-in pitches in Karachi’s Naya Nazimabad Cricket Stadium and Lahore’s Naya Nazimabad Cricket Stadium.
“The PCB remains confident and optimistic that we will not only see good contests in the Karachi and Lahore Tests but in all future domestic international matches as well,” a PCB spokesman said.
Match referees will award one demerit point to venues with below-average pitches, three and five demerit points to venues with poor and unfit pitches, respectively, according to the updated ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.
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