KARACHI
\nThe Inter\u00adnational Cricket Council rated the pitch for the first Test between Pakistan and Australia below average after the match ended in a dull draw earlier this week.
\nThere were only 14 wickets taken over the five days of Australia\u2019s first Test in Pakistan since 1998. Pakis\u00adtan scored 476-4 declared and 252 without loss with Australia replying with 449 all out as bowlers toiled and batters dominated on a lifeless flat track.
\n\u201cThe character of the pitch hardly changed over the course of five days and there was no deterioration apart from the bounce getting slightly lower,\u201d Ranjan Madugalle, the match referee for the Test, said in a statement issued by the ICC.
\n\u201cThe pitch did not have a great deal of pace and bounce in it for the seamers nor assisted the spinners. 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.\u201d
\nFans and commentators said the lifeless pitch spoiled Australia\u2019s first Test in Pakis\u00adtan for 24 years, after the team had previously decl\u00adined to visit on security grounds.
\nUnder ICC rules, demerit points remain active for a rolling five-year period and if a venue accumulates five it is suspended from hosting international cricket for a year.
\nReacting to the ICC\u2019s decision, the Pakistan Cricket Board said it is undergoing a prokect to overhaul pitces in the country.
\n\u201cWe note and accept the ICC\u2019s decision,\u201d a PCB spokes\u00adperson said. \u201cThis is the first time any Pakistan venue has received a demerit point. The PCB wants to see and prepare pitches that provide even and exciting contest between the bat and the ball.
\n\u201cIn this regard and in line with the PCB Chairman\u2019s vision, a massive project to overhaul and relay all pitc\u00adhes in Pakistan is already underway.
\n\u201cThe 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 mat\u00adches as well.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KARACHI The Inter\u00adnational Cricket Council rated the pitch for the first Test between Pakistan and Australia below average after the match ended in a dull draw earlier this week. There were only 14 wickets taken over the five days of Australia\u2019s first Test in Pakistan since 1998. Pakis\u00adtan scored 476-4 declared and 252 without loss […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":249081,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-249067","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n