'Dissatisfied': BCB leader criticizes Mirpur cricket ground
Despite multiple attempts to improve the pitch at Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNS), the BCB Chairman, Nazmul Abedin, has acknowledged that progress has been minimal[6]. He has also echoed the concern expressed by BCB president, Aminul Islam, regarding the black soil used in the Mirpur pitch, which makes it difficult for batters to spot the ball[3].
Nazmul Abedin has stated that an attempt was made to make the pitch sporting, but it proved unsuccessful[7]. He has not elaborated on the reasons for this failure, but he has indicated that significant changes may be necessary to address the issue. He suggested that either the entire soil base of the Mirpur wicket may need to be removed or the preparation process may need to change to improve the quality of the pitch[4].
The BCB chairman has termed the pitch as "unsatisfactory" and admitted that it has consistently failed to meet expectations[1]. The pitch has been widely criticized for favoring bowlers and restricting stroke play[2]. Despite this criticism, Nazmul Abedin has not mentioned any responsibility for the unsatisfactory pitch other than those in charge of preparing it[5].
In an effort to address the issue, BCB officials inspected the stadium and discussed maintenance with experienced pitch curator Gamini de Silva[1]. The recognition of these problems comes following sharp criticism from players and coaches, including Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson, who labeled the pitch “unacceptable” for international cricket during a recent Bangladesh-Pakistan T20I series[2][3].
Nazmul Abedin has expressed hope for a better wicket in Mirpur in the future[4]. He has not mentioned any history-making achievement by the Bangladesh cricket team in this paragraph, but it is worth noting that Bangladesh recently made history by winning the T20I series 2-1 against Pakistan for the first time ever[8].
[1] - The Daily Star [2] - ESPN Cricinfo [3] - Cricbuzz [4] - The Financial Express [5] - The Asian Age [6] - Cricbuzz [7] - The Daily Star [8] - ESPN Cricinfo
- Nazmul Abedin, echoing the sentiments of Mike Hesson, the Pakistan head coach, has declared the pitch at Mirpur's stadium as "unacceptable" for international cricket.
- Recognizing the need for improvement, Nazmul Abedin has proposed either the removal of the entire soil base of the Mirpur wicket or a change in the preparation process to enhance the quality of the national world-class sports stadium's pitch.
- In a positive note, despite the unsatisfactory pitch conditions, the Bangladesh national cricket team made history by winning the T20I series against Pakistan for the first time ever.
