Pakistan may have ended their T20I series in Bangladesh with a resounding win, but their discontent with the Mirpur pitch remained front and centre.
Captain Salman Ali Agha joined head coach Mike Hesson in criticising the surface, labelling it unfit for preparation ahead of major tournaments like the Asia Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Having already conceded the series with defeats in the first two games, Pakistan salvaged pride with a dominant 74-run victory in the third T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on 24 July. Batting first, Pakistan posted 178, then bowled Bangladesh out for 104 to secure a consolation win.
Despite the series loss, Salman praised his side’s response.
“I feel very proud. This is what we always say as a team we don’t give up, and today we played brilliantly,” he said at the post-match presentation.
Pakistan were powered by a blistering powerplay from Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub, followed by quick-fire contributions from Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Nawaz. With the ball, they kept Bangladesh under pressure, never letting the hosts settle.
“The way Sahibzada came in and performed, it was heart-touching. Saim’s innings helped tilt the match in our favour early on. Hasan and Nawaz gave us momentum. Then, with the ball, we executed our plans well,” Salman added.
But the victory was overshadowed by renewed criticism of the Mirpur pitch. The surface has long been a topic of discussion, known for its inconsistent bounce and excessive spin. Batsmen are regularly left guessing, with uneven pace and turn making even modest chases seem daunting.
Salman echoed Mike Hesson’s earlier comments following the first T20I, when the head coach called the pitch unacceptable for high-level preparation. The Pakistan captain said, “I didn’t say anything about the wicket initially. But if you ask me whether this is the ideal preparation for the Asia Cup or World Cup, I’d say no. I don’t think we’ll find a pitch like this anywhere else.”
He continued: “As international players, we must adapt to every condition. But I’ve played in many places: Australia, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and I haven’t seen wickets like this. I don’t think this will help us prepare properly for global tournaments.”
Back in December 2023, then Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha had described the Mirpur wicket as one you couldn’t fully understand unless you’d played at least two sessions on it. His remarks were in the context of Test cricket, but T20Is and ODIs have shown similar unpredictability, something witnessed again in this series.