“Below-average” rating for Mirpur upheld by ICC
The International Cricket Council [ICC] has upheld its decision to give one demerit point to the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium for its “below average” pitch in Bangladesh’s second Test against Sri Lanka in February. In that 2-match series, the first match venue—Chittagong had also received a demerit point for the same reason.
The pitch at Mirpur had received widespread criticism after only 681 runs were scored for the loss of 40 wickets in a three-day affair. Sri Lanka won the contest by 215 runs.
According to the match referee David Boon, "the pitch had uneven bounce throughout the match and inconsistent turn".
According to the rules, a venue accumulating five or more demerit points in a five-year rolling period will be suspended from hosting international matches for a period of 12 months, and accumulation of ten such points will result in a 24-month suspension.
In September 2017, the ICC had rated the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium's outfield "poor" after the first Test between Bangladesh and Australia. Two demerit points were imposed on the Mirpur stadium following that clash. If the venue gets two more points within September 2019, it will be suspended from hosting any international match for a year.
