ICC firm on their stand regarding their below average rating against the Mirpur pitch

David Boon of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees had rated the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Mirpur pitch “below average” after the Test match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Thus, it had also received one demerit point according to the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.

Following this decision, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had challenged the rating issued upon the Mirpur pitch. Considering BCB’s appeal, the ICC panel which consisted officials like Geoff Allardice, who is the General Manager- Cricket and former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble, who is the Chairperson of the Cricket Committee settled down for a lengthy discussion. As an outcome of the discussion, the panel opined that the evaluation generated by the match referee is legitimate.

ICC maintains its stand regarding the Mirpur pitch

Thus, the demerit point issued against the Mirpur track will remain effective for a rolling five-year period. It is also learned that in case the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, in Mirpur attains five demerit points during this period, then it will have to bear a 12-month month suspension ban from hosting any international cricket match, which was revealed in the ICC media release. The host team Bangladesh lost that Test match against the Lankans by 215 runs and the game ended inside three days.

The latest guidelines issued by the ICC

In the revised ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, which was introduced on 4 January 2018, if a pitch or outfield is rated as 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. The rule also states that demerit points will remain active for a rolling five-year period.

For all the latest cricket news and other details follow CricTracker.