The ICC, acting on an appeal from the Pakistan Cricket Board, has rescinded the “below average” rating given to the Rawalpindi pitch for the first Test between Pakistan and England in December 2022.
This was the second such rating given to the venue after the first Test between Pakistan and Australia back in March 2022, when only 14 wickets fell across three innings leading to the pitch getting rated “below average”
On this occasion, the ICC said that there were several “redeeming features” for the pitch that was dished up against England, including the fact that 37 wickets fell during the course of the game.
“Having reviewed footage of the Test Match, the ICC appeal panel, consisting of the ICC General Manager – Cricket and Chair of the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee, were unanimous in their opinion that, while the guidelines had been followed by the Match Referee in accordance with Appendix A of the Pitch Monitoring Process, there were several redeeming features – including the fact that a result was achieved following a compelling game, with 37 out of a possible 39 wickets being taken. As such, the appeal panel concluded that the wicket did not warrant the “below average” rating,” the ICC said in a media release.
Had this PCB appeal been rejected by the ICC, it would have led to a 12-month suspension for the venue from hosting international cricket. The decision is a huge relief for PCB, which recently resumed its full-throttle home season.