The pitch at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium used for the second Test match between Bangladesh and New Zealand has been rated “unsatisfactory” under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process by the International Cricket Council Tuesday.
The venue has also received one demerit point.
ICC match referee David Boon submitted the report to the ICC expressing concerns of the match officials and after consulting with the captains of both teams.
Following the assessment, the venue was given the demerit point.
Demerit points remain active for a rolling five-year period.
When a venue accumulates six demerit points [or crosses that threshold], it will be suspended from hosting any international cricket for 12 months.
A venue will be suspended from staging any international cricket for 24 months when it reaches the threshold of 12 demerit points.
“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,” said Boon in the press release.
The report has been forwarded to the Bangladesh Cricket Board who have 14 days if they wish to appeal against the sanction.
New Zealand skipper Tim Southee following the game earlier this week termed the Mirpur pitch as the worst he has ever played a Test in.
“Probably the worst wicket I've come across in my career,” said Southee.
The pitch used in the game was a typical Mirpur rank-turner prepared to give the hosts maximum home advantage.
But the plan backfired for the hosts as they ended up losing the game by four wickets inside two and a half days’ play and New Zealand managed to level the two-match series.
