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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has declared the Multan and Rawalpindi pitches, used during Pakistan's recent 2-1 Test series win over England, as 'satisfactory', as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
ICC hands 'satisfactory' rating to Multan and Rawalpindi pitches
Pakistan's first home Test series victory since February 21 gained significant attention due to the unique preparation of the pitches. The series commenced in Multan on a pitch initially covered with grass, which eventually transformed into a flat surface. Pakistan posted a substantial score of 556 in their first innings, but England's dominant reply of 827/7 declared, featuring stellar performances from Joe Root (262) and Harry Brook (317), set a new record for the highest total in Pakistan.
While a draw seemed inevitable, Pakistan's dramatic collapse in the third innings sealed England's historic victory by an innings and 47 runs.
Following their unexpected defeat in the series opener, Pakistan adopted a radical approach to pitch preparation. Within an hour of the loss, a new selection committee, comprising Aaqib Javed and Aleem Dar, was formed. This committee decided to hold the second Test on the same Multan pitch.
To expedite the drying process, giant fans were employed to prepare the Multan pitch, traditionally known for its lack of spin. A similar approach was adopted for the Rawalpindi Test, where giant fans were used to dry the pitch.
Pakistan's historic home Test series victory over England
As a result, both pitches offered significant spin and uneven bounce, providing ample assistance to the spinners. All 40 English wickets in the second and third Tests fell to Pakistan's spin bowlers, contributing to Shan Masood's successful debut as Test captain. The Pakistan spin duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, who claimed all 20 wickets in the second Test, once again dominated England, taking 19 of the 20 wickets in Rawalpindi. England struggled to counter the spin-friendly conditions, resulting in innings defeats of 267 and 112. This series victory marked Pakistan's first home Test series win since February 2021, and the spin-friendly nature of the pitches became a major talking point.
The ICC rates pitches on a scale from very good to unfit for international cricket. Venues receive demerit points for unsatisfactory or unfit pitches: one point for unsatisfactory and three points for unfit. If a venue accumulates five demerit points within a five-year period, it faces a 12-month suspension from hosting any international matches.
