A demerit point levied on Pindi Stadium for its lifeless pitch has been rescinded by the ICC. -AP
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rescinded the demerit point given to the Pindi Cricket Stadium last month following an appeal by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
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The ICC said in a statement on Monday that after having reviewed the footage of the Test match between Pakistan and England, the game's governing body felt "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."
The new PCB management committee, under the chairmanship of Najam Sethi, lodged an appeal against the demerit point soon after it was given prior to New Zealand's tour to Pakistan for two Test matches and three ODIs.
The ICC match referee had rated the Pindi pitch "below average" after England won the Test by 74 runs under dimming light on the last day by playing some attacking cricket.
Throughout the match England scored at a rate rarely seen in Test cricket, then made an adventurous declaration, both in a successful attempt to force a result despite the dead pitch.
It was the second demerit point given to the stadium after only 15 wickets fell over five days during a drawn test match between Pakistan and Australia in March 2022.
A venue stands to be suspended from hosting international cricket for a period of five years if it accumulates five demerit points. A "below average" rating earns a venue one demerit point, while "poor" and "unfit" ratings earn three and five demerit points respectively.
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