If you step into any stand of the Bir Shreshtha Shahid Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium in Chattogram, you will notice a grey outfield with patches across the surface.
A walk around the ground makes the dry, discoloured patches of grass even more visible. At some points, it becomes difficult to clearly distinguish between the wicket and the outfield.
At first glance, one might assume the grass has died due to intense heat, as the surface absorbs strong sunlight. Being a coastal area, high humidity can also make the air feel warmer than it actually is.
However, that is not the case. The curators are capable of growing grass here. The real issue is the persistent shortage of water at the ground. As Chattogram is a port city, freshwater is found at a much deeper or limited level, while saline water dominates the lower layers of the soil. This is why deep tube wells are required and that is exactly where the problem lies for this venue.
To address the issue, the BCB ground committee is working with Chattogram WASA to install an 850-foot-deep tube well in search of a freshwater source. Sagorika’s chief curator, Zahid Reza Babu, told Times of Bangladesh, “We have already arranged a deep tube well; it just needs to be activated. However, there are certain challenges here, you cannot install it just anywhere. This is a coastal area with widespread salinity.”
Watering of the ground began on April 9, ahead of the third ODI and the first two T20Is between Bangladesh and New Zealand. However, due to a shortage of freshwater, watering has been suspended for the last five days.
Babu said, “Just four days ago, the entire ground was green. But over the last four to five days, we haven’t been able to water the field properly, which is why it has turned grey.”
Addressing concerns over the appearance of the outfield, Babu urged people not to judge it from a distance alone. “What it looks like from outside is not as bad as it seems. Once you step onto the field, you will see how it actually is,” he said.
Meanwhile, WASA also has to ensure water supply for city residents, which limits the availability of freshwater for the stadium. Despite that, the BCB ground committee in Chattogram is working with WASA on a plan to ensure a regular supply.
BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury Sujon told reporters at the press box, “For now, we have taken a project in collaboration with WASA for an 850-foot-deep source. We got boring permission in three possible locations. It needs to be tested to see whether we can get usable water. WASA has been very helpful to us in this process.”
The Chattogram ground requires around 4 lakh litres of water daily, including the adjacent practice ground. However, as of the latest update, the BCB is receiving around 1 lakh litres.
Ultimately, the grey appearance of a ground that has hosted some of Bangladesh’s most memorable victories comes down to one key issue: freshwater scarcity.
As curator Babu summed it up, “Freshwater is not available throughout the year here, and the groundwater level goes very deep.”
