The Pindi Cricket Stadium pitch used for the first Test between Pakistan and Australia has been rated below average by the ICC.
The venue has received one demerit point under the ICC pitch and outfield monitoring process after the Test finished in a tame draw.
The ICC’s Ranjan Madugalle, who sits on the elite panel of match referees, said in a statement that the Rawalpindi pitch did not provide sufficient contest between bat and ball.
“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,” said Madugalle.
“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.”
Just 14 wickets fell across five days during the first Test, although Pakistan did bowl Australia out in the first innings.
And while there seemed to be little on offer for the fast bowlers at any time during the Test, and the pitch didn’t appear to break up sufficiently for spin to play a major role, Nauman Ali did claim a six-wicket haul.
If a venue receives five demerit points over a rolling five-year period, it loses the right to host international cricket for a period of 12 months and the ICC’s report has been forwarded to the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Imam-ul-Haq, who scored centuries in both innings, defended the pitch’s preparation as a part of home advantage.
“A draw is something nobody wants to see," said Imam. "Obviously when it's a five-day Test everyone anticipates for a result.
“But when we go to Australian conditions, they don't make pitches consulting us but make it according to their will so I think we should see our strength and should live up to our strength.”
The pitch was described as benign by Australian players both during and after the match, with David Warner describing it as “quite flat and didn’t offer anything.”
“From our point of view on the pitch, obviously it was a bit benign only fourteen wickets were taken,” said Warner.
“But at the end of the day, I think the curators obviously did the best that they could do and we just have to move on from from that wicket and see what's produced here in Karachi.”
The Australians had their first glimpse of the pitch at the National Stadium Karachi during Thursday’s training session, although the covers were on for most of the day.
They expect spin to play a far greater role in the second Test, with legspinner Mitchell Swepson in line for a Test debut in place of Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc.
