Pakistan vs Australia: ICC rates Rawalpindi pitch below average after boring draw in 1st Test

Pakistan vs Australia: ICC rated the Rawalpindi pitch, which hosted the first-ever meeting between the two sides on Pakistan soil in 24 years, as 'below average'. Only14 wickets fell over a course of 5 days in the Test series opener.

The International Cricket Council on Thursday rated the pitch used for the first Test between Pakistan and Australia in Rawalpindi 'below average'. The much-criticised pitch also earned a demerit point after the two teams, who met for the first time in 24 years on Pakistan solid, played out a boring draw.

Pakistan made 476/4 declared in their first innings before bowling out Australia for 459 on the final day. In response, Pakistan posted 252/0 as both openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq hitting a hundred each. The bowlers toiled hard on the Rawalpindi pitch with Australia's all-powerful attack, managing just 4 wickets despite bowling at Pakistan for close to 3 days.

Match Referee Ranjan Madugale sanctioned the rating and the demerit point, according to the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.

"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. 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," Madugale said in an iCC statement.

Earlier, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja, in an honest assessment, conceded that the pitch used for the first Test between Australia and Pakistan in Rawalpindi was not good advertisement for Test cricket.

"A drawn match is never a good advertisement for Test cricket, and I totally understand that we need to get a result in five days these days, and we get it 90% [of the time], but I want to remind you of 2-3 things," Raja said in a video message posted on YouTube.