Mirpur pitch rated 'below average', handed demerit point

The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium has received one demerit point according to the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process after David Boon of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees had rated the Mirpur Test pitch between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as 'below average', said an ICC media release.

Mr Boon, whose report has been forwarded to the Bangladesh Cricket Board, said: "From day one, there was evidence of the ball breaking the pitch surface, which resulted in uneven bounce throughout the match, along with inconsistent turn, which was even excessive at times. This pitch produced a contest that was too heavily skewed in favour of the bowlers, and didn’t give the batsmen a fair chance to display their skills."

Sri Lanka won the Test by 215 runs inside three days with 681 runs being scored for the loss of 40 wickets. Roshen Silva with 70 not out was the top-scorer of the match.

The demerit point will remain active for a rolling five-year period and if during this five-year period the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium reaches the threshold of five demerit points, then it will be suspended from staging any international cricket for 12 months.

According to the revised ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, which was introduced on 4 January 2018, if a pitch or outfield is rated as being substandard, that venue will be allocated a number of demerit points.

One demerit point will be awarded to venues whose pitches are rated by the match referees as below average, while three and five demerit points will be awarded to venues whose pitches are marked as poor and unfit, respectively.

No demerit point will be awarded when the outfield is rated as below average, but two and five demerit points will be awarded to venues whose outfields are marked as poor and unfit, respectively.

Demerit points will remain active for a rolling five-year period.

When a venue accumulates five demerit points (or crosses that threshold), it will be suspended from hosting any international cricket for a period of 12 months, while a venue will be suspended from staging any international cricket for 24 months when it reaches the threshold of 10 demerit points.