Pitch Concerns Overshadow Bangladesh's Series Win Over Pakistan

Bangladesh clinched the T20I series against Pakistan on home soil, but throughout the series, much of the conversation has centered around the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium pitch in Mirpur. The nature of the wicket drew consistent attention from cricket analysts and former players after every match.

Following the final game of the series, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha addressed the media and spoke cautiously yet clearly about the pitch conditions. While he stopped short of direct criticism, he expressed concern over the suitability of the wicket for preparation ahead of major tournaments like the Asia Cup and World Cup.

“I haven’t said anything against the wicket. I only said this isn’t an ideal wicket to prepare for the Asia Cup or the World Cup,” he said. “I have no problem with the wicket itself. As international players and as a team, we have to adapt and perform wherever we play and on whatever surface we’re given.”

Despite the diplomatic tone, Salman’s comments conveyed a sense of disappointment and implied that such pitches don't reflect the kind of competitive surfaces teams expect to encounter in high-profile global events.

He added,

“In the first two matches, we couldn’t execute our plans properly. If someone asks me whether this pitch helped us prepare for the Asia Cup or World Cup, I would say no. I don’t think we will find pitches like this in upcoming tournaments.”

Reflecting on the overall conditions in Bangladesh, he said:

“I don’t think we’ll come across these kinds of conditions elsewhere. I’ve played in many places, but I haven’t seen wickets quite like this. From a preparation standpoint, I don’t think it helped much. Still, we need to learn to perform in all types of conditions. But we couldn’t play the way we should have in this series.”

BCB Under Scrutiny Again

Salman’s measured yet pointed remarks have once again brought the Mirpur pitch under scrutiny. With major international tournaments on the horizon, bilateral series like this one are expected to serve as important preparation grounds. But repeated criticisms of the pitch raise questions about the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) approach to pitch preparation.

As discussions intensify, all eyes are now on how the BCB responds — not only to ensure fair playing conditions but also to support the Tigers' own preparation for global competitions.