The Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla wicket was not without criticism in the last Pakistan series. Even after international cricket returned to the home of cricket after 14 months, the picture has not changed. Initially, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson came to the press conference after the first match and single-handedly took the Mirpur wicket. Then, after the third match, Pakistan captain Salman Agha expressed his anger.
According to Salman, such wickets will not be useful in the preparation for the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup. Later, the BCB president and other directors have also expressed their displeasure over the slow-low wicket in Mirpur. In the first two T20Is of the Bangladesh-Pakistan series, the batsmen from both sides were unsuccessful and could not play big innings. After the Pakistan coach-captain, BCB director Nazmul Abedin Fahim also expressed his dissatisfaction with the wicket.
Yesterday (Saturday), BCB Director Akram Khan also said about the wicket, “If you can’t score at least 160-170 runs in T20s, you shouldn’t play on that kind of wicket. The wicket wasn’t that good in the series we had recently. Maybe it was because of the weather and time. We discussed it a lot and there is a possibility that we can come to the Netherlands here. And if the situation is the same in the remaining matches… there are good wickets outside Dhaka, more runs are scored. We have planned and thought that we can play there too.”
Later, regarding the venue of the NCL, Akram said, “We are going to start the National T20 League from September 15. We are trying to organize the tournament in two venues. One of the venues is Chittagong, the other has not been finalized yet. However, we are organizing it in two venues this time, hoping that all the players of the country will participate here.”
FAQ
Why is the Mirpur pitch under criticism again?
The pitch at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla Stadium has come under fire for being slow and low, making it difficult for batsmen to play freely. Both teams struggled to post competitive scores during the recent T20I series against Pakistan.
Who criticized the Mirpur pitch?
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson and captain Salman Agha openly criticized the pitch. BCB directors, including Nazmul Abedin Fahim and Akram Khan, also expressed dissatisfaction.
What are the main concerns with the pitch conditions?
Critics highlighted that the pitch hampers preparation for major tournaments like the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup. Scores below 160 in T20s reflect the pitch’s unplayable nature.
What actions is the BCB planning to take?
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is considering shifting upcoming matches, including NCL T20 fixtures, to venues outside Dhaka where pitch conditions are better.
