{
  "id": 2150506,
  "title": "ICC revokes demerit point imposed on Gaddafi Stadium pitch in Pakistan after Australia ODI",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/icc-revokes-demerit-point-imposed-on-gaddafi-stadium-pitch-in",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-20T14:13:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/icc-revokes-demerit-point-imposed-141307821.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The International Cricket Council (ICC) has overturned the demerit point previously assigned to the Gaddafi Stadium pitch in Pakistan, following a review by their appeals panel. The decision was made after the panel assessed match footage, the match referee's report, and statements from both teams' captains. The pitch received a demerit point in June following a disappointing rating for the third One Day International (ODI) between Pakistan and Australia.\n\nThe ICC concluded that the pitch did not exhibit excessive unevenness or spin, which had led to the initial sanctions. Match referee Graeme Labrooy of Sri Lanka had previously reported that the pitch was not suitable for an ODI and that batters found it challenging to score runs due to its slow and low nature.\n\nThis is not the first time Pakistan's Cricket Board (PCB) has managed to reverse a pitch-related sanction imposed by the ICC. The PCB previously overturned a demerit point given to the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for a test match between Pakistan and England, which Pakistan won by 74 runs. In another instance, the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground in Toronto will retain its three demerit points after the appeals panel affirmed the match referee's verdict that the pitch used for a game between Canada and the Netherlands was unfit.",
  "summary": "The International Cricket Council’s appeals panel on Thursday revoked the demerit point imposed on the Gaddafi Stadium pitch in Pakistan. The pitch in Lahore had been handed the demerit point following an unsatisfactory rating for the third ODI between Pakistan and Australia in June. The ICC said the appeals panel rescinded the sanction after reviewing match footage, match referee’s report and…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}