Dubai (Sports Desk): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rated the pitches at England’s historic Lord’s Cricket Ground and Pakistan’s Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore as unsatisfactory, issuing one demerit point to each venue.
According to the ICC, the pitch used in the Test match between England and New Zealand at Lord’s showed excessive seam movement and inconsistent bounce, raising concerns after 33 wickets fell within just two days.
On the other hand, the pitch used for an ODI match at Gaddafi Stadium was also deemed below international standards. The match referee noted that the surface was slow and low, making batting difficult, while spinners received unusual assistance from the very beginning of the game.
Under ICC regulations, a demerit point is issued to a venue for a poor-rated pitch, which remains on record for five years.
Cricket boards have the right to appeal the decision within 14 days, while regulations state that six demerit points can result in a one-year ban from hosting international matches, and twelve points can lead to a two-year suspension.
The ICC clarified that both venues had no previous demerit points on record.