Chittagong stadium faces suspension threat
The Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong has received one demerit point according to the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process because of its “below average pitch”.
The first clash of the 2-Test series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka took place at the aforementioned stadium. Bangladesh scored 513 runs in their 1st innings and 307/5 in their 2nd innings, whereas Sri Lanka amassed a total of 713 for nine wickets in their 1st innings.
David Boon of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees rated the Chittagong Test pitch as “below average”. A total of five demerit points in a five-year span can get a stadium suspended from staging any international cricket for a year. That means, if the stadium gets four more demerit points in the next five years, it will be suspended from hosting international cricket for twelve months.
Mr. Boon, whose report has been forwarded to the Bangladesh Cricket Board, said: “The pitch provided no seam movement to the fast bowlers with the new ball and also lacked carry and bounce throughout the match. The pitch did offer occasional slow turn for the spinners early on, but it did not deteriorate as much as would have been expected as the match progressed, resulting in a pitch that too heavily favored the batsmen across the five days.”
