In the last stage of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) four-day series, South Zone was swept out for 49 against Central Zone on Day 3 at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday after ending Day 2 at 47 for three when opener Prantik Nawrose retired injured.
It was amazing, but not for the batters in the South Zone. After they had made 214 runs in the opening session, concerns were raised about the Mirpur wicket once more. The intention of the BCL tournament committee was to create green, bouncy wickets that would present difficulties for hitters.
The Daily Star was told yesterday by selector Habibul Bashar, “It was just very bad batting, inexplicable.”
“Everyone assumed that this was the typical Mirpur wicket, but this is the kind of wicket we want in first-class cricket.” There was grass, and there was a swing. The bounce was good but not uneven, and the pacers claimed wickets.
“South Zone bowled extremely well, of sure, but bowling had nothing to do with the pitch; it was only a contributing factor. It was pretty much bad batting. You must manage these kinds of obstacles. Although there was a commitment, there wasn’t much of an attempt to remain and finish sessions.
“It is a classic Test match wicket such as in Australia and the bowlers used the conditions well,” Bashar stated.
The South Zone batsmen had no desire to continue in Mirpur since the East Zone had virtually guaranteed both a victory and the title on Day 2 with a large total in their match in Sylhet.
Such incidents hinder first-class competitions’ capacity to produce serious cricket players capable of competing in the most difficult format.