The International Cricket Council (ICC) today rated the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium pitch, which hosted the second match between Bangladesh and New Zealand as unsatisfactory.
A total of 178.1 overs were possible over the four days after entire day two and the first session of the third day was washed out due to rain and wet outfields. But in this period, 36 wickets fell and Glenn Phillps was the only batters from the both sides to score (87 and 40*) 20 plus runs in both innings. Thanks to Phillips’ New Zealand won the match by four wickets eventually.
ICC Match Referee, David Boon, submitted his report to the ICC expressing the concerns of the match officials and after consulting with the captains of both teams. Following the assessment, the venue has received one demerit point.
The report has been forwarded to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), who now has 14 days if they wish to appeal against the sanction.
Boon said: “The outfield was very good and held up extremely well with the rain. However, it appeared that the pitch may have been under prepared, as it was not hard and was covered in grass clippings on day one. From the first session onwards, throughout the remainder of the match the bounce was inconsistent with numerous balls bursting the surface. Deliveries from spin bowlers often went over the batter’s shoulder when playing forward and then occasionally stayed very low.”
