Rawalpindi pitch officially rated 'below average' by ICC

The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch, where the first Test between Pakistan and Australia ended in a tame draw on Tuesday, has officially been rated "below average" by the match referee and given a demerit point.

In all, 1,187 runs were scored for the loss of only 14 wickets in the Test, as bowlers toiled and batters dominated on a lifeless flat track.

Under 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.

The Rawalpindi 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.

The pitch for the 2017 Ashes Test at the MCG, which also ended in a tame draw, was rated poor at the time.

"The character of the pitch hardly changed over the course of five days," match referee Ranjan Madugalle said in his report.

"There has been no deterioration apart from the bounce getting slightly lower. In my view, this does not represent an even contest between bat and ball."

"In keeping with the ICC guidelines I rate this pitch as below average."

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accepted the admonishment and said a "massive project" was already underway to improve the country's Test pitches.

"This is the first time any Pakistan venue has received a demerit point," the board said in a statement.

"The PCB remains confident and optimistic that we will not only see good contests in the Karachi and Lahore Tests, but in all future international matches as well."

PCB chairman Ramiz Raja had earlier effectively admitted that the pitch had been prepared specifically to stymie the Australian pace attack.

He said he understood the frustration of fans but added that "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."

The second Test in the three-match Australia series starts in Karachi on Saturday.

Qantas Tour of Pakistan 2022

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. On standby: Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Renshaw

First Test: Match drawn

March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi

March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore

Australia ODI and T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi

March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi

April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi

April 5: Only T20I, Rawalpindi

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports