One of the three matches on the inaugural day of Bangladesh Premier League 2024-25 kicked off on a dire, underprepared pitch.
It was Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur which hosted the match between Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited and Dhaka Wanderers Club in the afternoon.
The Gazipur ground hosted a professional league match for the first time.
Mohammedan went off to a flying start as last season's runners-up thrashed the just promoted Wanderers 6-0.
Bangladesh Football Federation's former grounds committee chairman Fazlur Rahman Babul travelled to Gazipur to watch the game and found the pitch in “very bad condition”.
"I came here with Mohammedan. The ground is very bad. It is unsuitable for matches," Babul told Dhaka Tribune over phone.
"Problem is at many places. The pitch is not parallel. Water was not spread. Soil was not used. The quality of the game would be low on such a ground."
BFF's only groundsman Chan Mia admitted the poor condition of the pitch due to lack of time for preparation.
He said he got less than half the time required to prepare a field.
"It (Gazipur's venue) is a new field. To work on such ground, at least one to one and a half months is required. I had only 15 days. No field can get ready in this short time," BFF's only groundsman told Dhaka Tribune.
"Lot of works are yet to be done. The grass has to be reaped and sowed. Soil has to be placed. It will require one month more."
The lone groundsman said he was informed, as well as received the order, late.
The current BFF executive committee was formed following the Elective Congress 2024 at the end of last month.
The election process was not complete as one member post is yet to be filled after two candidates tied for the same number of votes.
The new grounds committee is also not formed yet.
BFF's general secretary Imran Hossain Tushar could not be reached for a comment on the matter.
