PCB appeal against ICC’s decision regarding Rawalpindi Test demerit point

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have appealed against the International Cricket Council (ICC), after they deemed the Rawalpindi Test between England and Pakistan as ‘flat’ and awarded it a demerit point. 

Andy Pycroft, who was the match referee during that clash called that the conditions in play was ‘flat’ and insisted that there was no assistance to any type of bowlers. 

"It was a very flat pitch which gave almost no assistance to any type of bowler. That was the main reason why batters scored very fast and both sides posted huge totals. The pitch hardly deteriorated during the course of the match,” Pycroft had said.

Rawalpindi was already awarded a demerit point earlier last year, for dishing a similar pitch in the clash against Australia. PCB’s new administration spearheaded by Najam Sethi, have appealed against the decision. 

Ironically, that Rawalpindi pitch went on to produce one of the best Tests from 2022, with Ben Stokes-led England side winning a nail-biter. En-route to not just winning the Test, England smashed multiple records, including scoring a record-breaking 506 runs on day one, as the Test eventually went on to become the third-highest runs in a Test match, and the highest in 80 years.