ICC rescinds demerit point imposed on Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium after PCB appeal

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday rescinded a demerit point imposed on Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and another on a cricket stadium in Toronto, following decisions on three pitch-rating appeals submitted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Cricket Canada (CC).

However, it maintained the decision to impose three demerit points and an “Unfit” rating on the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground in Toronto’s King City after a match played in June, according to a statement by the ICC.

“The ICC Appeals Panel arrived at the determinations after reviewing match footage, match referees’ reports and official comments from the respective team captains,” the statement said.

According to the statement, a demerit point that was imposed on Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium — following an “Unsatisfactory” rating for the third Men’s ODI between Pakistan and Australia on June 4 — has been rescinded, with the panel noting that “the pitch did not demonstrate excessive unevenness or spin”.

The sanction was announced in June after match referee Graeme Labrooy submitted a report citing concerns raised by match officials and captains over the surface used for the series decider, which Pakistan won by four wickets to clinch the three-match series 2-1.

The PCB has successfully challenged a similar ruling in the past. In 2022, the ICC awarded a demerit point to Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium following the Test against England, but the decision was later overturned after the PCB lodged an appeal.

The appeals panel also rescinded a demerit point imposed on the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground for the ICC Men’s World Cup League 2 match between the United States and the Netherlands on June 8. According to the ICC, the stadium had been issued an “Unsatisfactory” rating for the match; however, the demerit point was withdrawn as the panel felt the condition of the surface “was consistent with that of a satisfactory pitch” and “did not demonstrate excessive unevenness, seam movement or spin”.

The stadium had also been issued an “Unfit” rating and three demerit points for another match of the same series between the Netherlands and Canada on June 16, which the panel has decided to maintain.

It considered the pitch’s condition “dangerous and thus consistent with that of an Unfit pitch”, the ICC statement quoted it as saying.

“Following the rulings, the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground holds three demerit points on its record, while Gaddafi Stadium carries zero demerit points,” the council added.