Indore Pitch Rating: BCCI challenge ICC's 'poor rating' for Indore Pitch, ICC to take final decision in two weeks

Indore Pitch Rating: BCCI follow PCB’s lead, challenge ICC’s ‘poor rating’ for Indore Pitch, final decision in two weeks – Follow LIVE Updates

Sreehari Menon

Tuesday, Mar 14, 2023 11:34 pm

Indore Pitch Rating: IND AUS Indore Test – The BCCI has launched an appeal against ICC’s decision to give the Indore pitch a ‘poor rating’ as per reports. The Indian cricket board were unhappy with the decision and now has finally put in a formal protest. The ICC match referee Chris Broad had put in […]

Indore Pitch Rating: IND AUS Indore Test – The BCCI has launched an appeal against ICC’s decision to give the Indore pitch a ‘poor rating’ as per reports. The Indian cricket board were unhappy with the decision and now has finally put in a formal protest. The ICC match referee Chris Broad had put in a scathing report for the Holkar Stadium surface, resulting in 3 demerit points. Follow India vs Australia LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.

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Indore Pitch Rating: BCCI challenge ICC’s ‘poor rating’ for Indore Pitch, ICC to take final decision in two weeks – Follow LIVE Updates

As per a Cricbuzz report, the BCCI have formally appealed ICC’s decision to brand the Holkar Stadium in Indore a poor pitch rating. The rating was handed over after the IND vs AUS 3rd Test at the venue, which Australia won by 9 wickets in the first session of Day 3.

ICC Match Referee Chris Broad rated Indore’s pitch at the Holkar Stadium as “poor”. ICC swiftly took action and gave three demerit points to Indore. India Cricket Team lost the 3rd Test in Indore within 7 sessions with 31 wickets falling on a track that turned from Day 1. As per norms, BCCI had 14 days to appeal a decision by the ICC on pitch and demerit points and did so well before the deadline.

“The pitch, which was very dry, did not provide a balance between bat and ball, favouring spinners from the start. The fifth ball of the match broke through the pitch surface and continued to occasionally break the surface providing little or no seam movement and there was excessive and uneven bounce throughout the match,” Cris Broad said of the Indore pitch.

While BCCI understands that the pitch was far from up to the mark, there is a belief that 3 demerit points were harsh. The rating remains active for a period of five years. It could very well result in the suspension of the ground should 2 more points be awarded. The BCCI have mailed their appeal and sought a review of the same. The Indian board hopes that it can overturn the decision from ‘poor’ to ‘below average’.

Indore Pitch Rating: BCCI challenge ICC’s ‘poor rating’ for Indore Pitch, ICC to take final decision in two weeks – Follow LIVE Updates

ICC Pitch Ratings: It is mandatory for the match referees to report to the ICC on the pitch. While rating a pitch, referees consider outfield and the pitch. The ratings help ICC to prepare future pitches. 5 demerit points in a five-year period attract a 12-month ban on the venue.

“A pitch or outfield is deemed to be substandard if it receives a rating of poor or unfit. Sanctions may be applied by ICC to a venue that presents a substandard pitch or outfield for international cricket,” ICC states.

ICC Ratings:

Very Good
Good
Average
Below Average
Poor
Unfit

The report further states that BCCI were set to appeal the decision as soon as ICC announced the demerit points. Many on the Indian board believe that the decision was taken in a rush. The decision came just hours after the match ended, unusual in ICC matters. Now, a two-member committee of the ICC general manager and chairman of the Cricket Committee will review Chris Broad’s assessment. Given Sourav Ganguly is the Cricket Committee chairman, a replacement is expected to avoid a conflict of interest.

Pakistan Cricket Board challenged ICC’s decision last year when Rawalpindi’s pitch for Pakistan vs England was deemed “below average”. A total of 1768 runs were scored on the pitch. But PCB got the decision overturned. Former PCB CEO Wasim Khan will be one of ICC’s adjudicators. A decision will be announced in the next 14 days.