Pakistan confident of ‘good contests’ ahead after first Test pitch earns ICC demerit

Australia are looking forward to a much-improved pitch for the second Test in Pakistan after the lifeless track that led to a bore draw in the opener in Rawalpindi was ruled as “below average”.

Australia’s much-vaunted bowlers were blunted, capturing only four Pakistan wickets throughout the entire series-opening stalemate in what has been dubbed as a terrible advertisement for Test cricket.

On Thursday, the governing International Cricket Council handed a demerit point to the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

Match referee Ranjan Madugalle rated it “below average”, saying: “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.

“The pitch did not have a great deal of pace and bounce in it for the seamers nor assisted the spinners as the match progressed. In my view, this does not represent an even contest between bat and ball. Therefore, in keeping with the ICC guidelines I rate this pitch as below average.”

The pitch, though, did avoid the harsher punishment of three and five demerit points which are awarded to those venues whose pitches are marked as poor and unfit, respectively.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja had earlier effectively admitted the pitch had been prepared specifically to stymie the Australian pace attack.

He said he understood the frustration of fans but added “just for the heck of it, we can’t prepare a fast pitch or a bouncy pitch and put the game in Australia’s lap ... It’s important that when we play at home, we play to our strengths.”

After the ICC ruling, though, the PCB said a project to overhaul and relay all pitches in Pakistan was underway and added it was “confident and optimistic” there