Is the Mirpur Wicket Unsatisfactory?

Dhaka, Aug 2 (NationPress) Nazmul Abedin, the chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s cricket operations, declared on Friday that the board did not instruct the grounds committee to create a low and slow wicket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. He also acknowledged that the current pitch conditions are below standard.

Recently, Bangladesh achieved a 2-1 series victory over Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, but this triumph has drawn criticism. Many analysts believe the home team gained an unfair edge by winning the first two matches on a pitch that hindered aggressive batting. Their weaknesses were laid bare in the third T20I, which was played on a notably better surface.

"It seems there was an effort to create a sporting pitch, but it did not materialize. The responsibility for this lies with those tasked with its preparation. From our side - the board's perspective - I don't think there was any directive for the wicket to be low and slow," Cricbuzz quoted Nazmul.

The team has previously faced backlash for depending on low and slow pitches at SBNS to gain an upper hand against visiting teams like Australia, England, and New Zealand. Nazmul expressed his dissatisfaction with the SBNS pitch, underscoring that it has consistently failed to meet expectations despite numerous attempts to enhance it.

"We've noticed that whenever we sought a more favorable, bouncy wicket, it often did not materialize. The usual explanations revolve around the soil type, environmental factors, or the frequency of matches played on that surface," he commented.

"Overall, the Mirpur wicket is unsatisfactory - we all acknowledge that. We need to address this moving forward. It's possible that the entire soil base may need replacing, or we may have to alter the pitch preparation process. I hope we see some changes in this area soon, leading to a better wicket in Mirpur," Nazmul added.

BCB president Aminul Islam recently criticized the pitch at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, noting that the black soil used in its preparation makes it challenging for batters to see the ball. Nazmul echoed this concern, aligning with the president's observations.

"If there had been grass on the wicket, the ball's color might not have deteriorated as much. The absence of natural grass means that when the ball comes into contact with the soil, it absorbs the color, causing it to appear less white and take on a darker hue over time. This, naturally, impacts visibility. Our board president's comments on this matter were certainly valid," he explained.