ICC withdraws Gaddafi Stadium demerit point

ICC withdraws Gaddafi Stadium Rescinded”>Gaddafi Stadium pitch demerit point”>Gaddafi Stadium demerit point after PCB appeal

The ICC has removed the demerit point given to Gaddafi Stadium after overturning the pitch’s Unsatisfactory rating for the Pakistan-Australia ODI on June 4. It also lifted one point from Canada’s Maple Leaf Cricket Ground but upheld three points from a later Unfit rating.

LAHORE: The International Cricket Council has removed the demerit point imposed on Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium after its appeals panel overturned the Unsatisfactory rating given to the pitch used for the third men’s ODI between Pakistan and Australia on June 4.

The ruling was announced on Thursday after the ICC Appeals Panel considered three appeals filed by the Pakistan Cricket Board and Cricket Canada. The panel reviewed match footage, the match referee’s reports and official comments from the captains before reaching its decisions.

In the case of Gaddafi Stadium, the panel said the match referee had applied the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process guidelines correctly, but found that the surface did not merit the sanction that followed. The panel concluded that the pitch “did not demonstrate excessive unevenness or spin” and the demerit point attached to the venue has therefore been rescinded.

That decision leaves Gaddafi Stadium with no demerit points on its record.

Appeals involving Canada venue

The panel also ruled on two appeals concerning Maple Leaf Cricket Ground in King City, Toronto. The venue had first received an Unsatisfactory rating for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 match between the United States and the Netherlands on June 8.

On that appeal, the panel again said the match referee had followed the relevant guidelines but found the strip did not warrant the penalty imposed. It determined that the surface “was consistent with that of a satisfactory pitch” and “did not demonstrate excessive unevenness, seam movement or spin”. As a result, the one demerit point awarded for that match was also removed.

However, the panel upheld the three demerit points issued to the same ground after it was rated Unfit for the Canada-Netherlands match on June 16. The panel found that “the condition of the pitch was dangerous and thus consistent with that of an Unfit pitch”.

Demerit points remain active for five years

Following the appeals decisions, Maple Leaf Cricket Ground now has three demerit points on its record, while Gaddafi Stadium has none. Under ICC regulations, one demerit point is given for an Unsatisfactory pitch and three for a surface rated Unfit.

The points remain active for five years. A venue that reaches six demerit points is suspended from hosting international cricket for 12 months, while a ground that accumulates 12 points faces a 24-month suspension.