ICC deems Cape Town pitch “unsatisfactory” following India’s rapid victory over South Africa

The International Cricket Council (ICC) rated the Newlands pitch on which India beat South Africa in less than two days last week as “unsatisfactory” on Tuesday. India’s victory in Cape Town on Thursday was in a game that lasted just 107 overs and was the shortest Test to produce a result. Match referee Chris Broad’s report expressed “the concerns of the match officials and…captains Dean Elgar and Rohit Sharma, both of whom felt that the pitch was below standard”. The ICC quoted Chris Broad, who said “The pitch in Newlands was very difficult to bat on,” due to the ball bouncing quickly and alarmingly throughout the match, causing difficulties for the batters. Newlands received one demerit point, with a more serious rating of ‘unfit’ carrying three demerit points. Cricket South Africa can appeal the demerit point.