Ranjan Madugalle of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Elite Panel of Match Referees has rated the pitch at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi that was used for the first Test between Pakistan and Australia as “below average” and the venue has received one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.

The opening match of the three-Test series ended in a draw on Tuesday. Batting first, the hosts had declared their first innings at 476-4. In reply, Australia were all out for 459 on the final day of the Test. The match ended in a tame draw with Pakistan at 252 without any loss in their second outing.

“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. 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," said Madugalle. 

"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,” he added as the report was forwarded to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday.

The second Test starts in Karachi on Saturday.

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