BCB chief admits Mirpur pitch not fit for international matches

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has admitted that the pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNS) in Mirpur, Dhaka is currently not suitable for international cricket.

The statement comes in the wake of criticism during the recent T20I series between Bangladesh and Pakistan, which was marked by low-scoring encounters. Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson notably described the conditions in the first two matches as "unacceptable" for international play.

BCB's cricket operations chairman Nazmul Abedin said the board had not directed curators to prepare a slow and low surface. “I think there was an attempt to make it a sporting wicket, but they couldn’t achieve that,” he stated. “The responsibility lies with those preparing the pitch.”

He added that consistent challenges have been faced when attempting to produce better pitches at the venue, often attributed to the nature of the soil, environmental factors, or excessive use of the ground due to frequent matches.

“We accept that the Mirpur wicket is not satisfactory. We need to address this,” Abedin said, suggesting that significant changes, including soil replacement or overhauling pitch preparation methods, may be required.

Earlier this week, BCB officials inspected the ground and held discussions with veteran curator Gamini de Silva, who has managed the stadium’s pitch for more than a decade.

The board has expressed hope for improvements in pitch conditions in the near future.