Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf was critical of the pitch conditions at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur following his team’s narrow eight-run defeat to Bangladesh in the second T20 international.
He claimed that the surface behaved very differently from the wickets he experienced during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), insisting that the BPL pitches were superior in quality.
Faheem, who last featured for Fortune Barishal in the BPL alongside fellow pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi who is absent from this tour played a crucial innings of 51 runs from 32 balls.
His valiant effort came at a time when Pakistan’s batting lineup was under severe pressure after losing five wickets for just 15 runs early in the chase of 134.
Despite Faheem’s resistance, Pakistan were bowled out for 125 in 19.2 overs, handing Bangladesh a thrilling victory.
At the post-match press conference, Faheem discussed the unusual behaviour of the Mirpur pitch, explaining the stark contrast between it and the BPL wickets.
“Yes, there is a noticeable difference between the pitches here and those in the BPL,” he said. “The BPL is played in December and January, when the weather is much cooler. The pitches at that time tend to offer less spin and grip, and the surface plays differently.”
Bangladesh is currently in the rainy season, with frequent showers even in Dhaka. Though rain before the match did not affect play, it may have influenced the pitch conditions significantly.
According to the groundsmen, the pitch was not fully prepared due to the rain, leading to a surface that felt hard on top but soft underneath. This combination made the wicket unpredictable and challenging for batsmen. Faheem said, “The groundsmen told us that the rain prevented the pitch from being properly prepared. In comparison, the wickets in the BPL which I’ve played on before were much better. The Mirpur wicket today was quite different, and I believe the BPL wickets were better than this one.”