After 14 months, international T20 cricket returned to the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur with a match against Pakistan. Fans flocked to the “Home of Cricket” to watch Bangladesh take on Pakistan, filling the stadium to capacity. Bangladesh began the series with a 7-wicket win, delighting the home crowd. On that day, spectators were allowed to bring in food and drinks, following a directive from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
However, just one match later, the BCB reversed this decision and reimposed a ban.
In an official statement on Monday, the BCB announced:
“For the information of spectators wishing to attend the 2nd and 3rd T20 matches of the ongoing international T20 series between Bangladesh and Pakistan, scheduled for July 22 and 24 respectively — due to special security concerns, the entry of any kind of food and beverages into the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium is strictly prohibited.”
The BCB also made a polite request to all spectators to cooperate fully with the security agencies, both public and private, responsible for the safety of the series.
Before the series began, the BCB had stated that spectators would be allowed to bring food and drinks into the stadium. However, during entry on Sunday, security personnel were seen removing the caps from water bottles. Several security guards admitted they were unaware of the permission regarding food, which led to confusion and inconvenience for many fans trying to bring in food — some even faced obstruction from the security staff.