The International Cricket Council (ICC) declared the pitch for the second Test of the ICC World Test Championship series between Bangladesh and New Zealand at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur as "unsatisfactory" under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.
ICC Match Referee David Boon lodged his report with the ICC, articulating the worries conveyed by the match officials. Additionally, he consulted with the captains of both teams before finalising his report.
Boon noted: "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."
30 Wickets Fell To Spin In BAN vs NZ Mirpur Test
Out of the 36 wickets in the second Test, 30 were claimed by spin bowlers, indicating a pitch heavily favouring slow bowling. ICC Match Referee David Boon submitted a report expressing concerns raised by match officials and after discussing the matter with both team captains. As a consequence of the evaluation, the venue has received one demerit point. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has a 14-day window to appeal against the sanction.
The demerit points will remain active for five years, and if a venue accumulates six or more demerit points within this period, it faces a 12-month suspension from hosting international cricket.
In the Test match held in Mirpur, Dhaka, New Zealand secured a win by four wickets, ultimately drawing the two-match series. Glenn Phillips emerged as the standout performer for the Kiwis, not only contributing significantly with the bat but also showcasing his prowess as an all-rounder with the ball.