The International Cricket Council (ICC) has classified the pitches used at Lord’s Cricket Ground and Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium as unsatisfactory following recent international matches, issuing one demerit point to each venue under its pitch and outfield monitoring process.
The decision relates to the pitch used during the England-New Zealand Test match at Lord’s and the third One-Day International between Pakistan and Bangladesh at Gaddafi Stadium. The ICC said match referees Andrew Pycroft and Graeme Labrooy submitted reports highlighting concerns raised by match officials and team captains.
According to Pycroft’s assessment, the Lord’s pitch produced excessive seam movement and inconsistent bounce during the Test match. He noted that the ball frequently stayed low, creating challenging batting conditions throughout the game. A total of 33 wickets fell during the first two days, with 16 wickets on day one and 17 on day two.
In Lahore, match referee Graeme Labrooy reported that the Gaddafi Stadium surface was unusually slow and offered significant assistance to spin bowlers from the beginning of the match. The report stated that batting conditions were difficult and that players required considerable time to settle at the crease.
Labrooy concluded that the pitch did not meet the expected standard for a One-Day International contest, as it heavily favoured bowlers and limited scoring opportunities.
The ICC has formally communicated the findings to both the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Under ICC regulations, both boards have 14 days to lodge an appeal against the sanctions.
Demerit points remain on a venue’s record for a specified period, and repeated sanctions can lead to further disciplinary action, including the suspension of international matches at a venue.
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