(AFP) – The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch, where the first Test between Pakistan and Australia ended in a tame draw on Tuesday, has officially been rated “below average” by the match referee and given a demerit point.

In all, 1 187 runs were scored for the loss of only 14 wickets in the Test, as bowlers toiled and batters dominated on a lifeless flat track

Under ICC rules, demerit points remain active for a rolling five-year period and if a venue accumulates five, it is suspended from hosting international cricket for a year.

The Rawalpindi pitch, though, did avoid the harsher punishment of three and five demerit points which are awarded to those venues whose pitches are marked as poor and unfit, respectively.

The pitch for the 2017 Ashes Test at the MCG, which also ended in a tame draw, was rated poor at the time

“The character of the pitch hardly changed over the course of five days,” match referee Ranjan Madugalle said in his report.

“There has been no deterioration apart from the bounce getting slightly lower. In my view, this does not represent an even contest between bat and ball.”

“In keeping with the ICC guidelines I rate this pitch as below average.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accepted the admonishment and said a “massive project” was already underway to improve the country’s Test pitches.

“This is the first time any Pakistan venue has received a demerit point,” the board said in a statement.

“The PCB remains confident and optimistic that we will not only see good contests in the Karachi and Lahore Tests, but in all future international matches as well.

PCB chairman Ramiz Raja had earlier effectively admitted that the pitch had been prepared specifically to stymie the Australian pace attack.

He said he understood the frustration of fans but added that “just for the heck of it, we can’t prepare a fast pitch or a bouncy pitch and put the game in Australia’s lap … It’s important that when we play at home, we play to our strengths.”

The second Test in the three-match Australia series starts in Karachi tomorrow.