The International Cricket Council, on Thursday (September 14), gave a ‘poor’ rating to the outfield of the Shere Bangla National Stadium, which hosted the first Test between Bangladesh and Australia last month. The charges have been laid by match referee Jeff Crowe.
“The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, who officiated in the first Test between Bangladesh and Australia in Dhaka from 27 to 30 August, has rated the Shere Bangla National Stadium outfield for that match as “poor”,” stated the release from the governing body.
“Crowe, in accordance with Clause 3 of the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, submitted his report to the ICC in which he expressed concern over the quality of the outfield,” it added.
The ICC further stated the Crowe’s report had been forwarded to Bangladesh Cricket Board and the cricket board has now 14 days to respond to the charges. The Bangladesh board’s response will be reviewed by ICC’s General Manager of cricket Geoff Allardice and ICC’s chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle.
The outcome of the matter will be decided in accordance with Claus 4 according to which the first instance of such a rating is dealt with a warning and/or a fine not more than $15,000. However, the penalty is doubled if the the field is give a poor rating again within five years of the first finding.
Meanwhile, Nizamuddin Chowdhury, the BCB CEO, admitted that the field was not in the best of conditions and blamed the weather for the same.
“The grass was their main concern and we understand why they found it to be poor,” Chowdhury said. “The weather this year was the worst in the last decade, but the groundstaff gave it their best.”
Bangladesh, nevertheless, had created history on the very ground as they defeated Australia by 20 runs to register their first Test win against the team from Down Under. Australia had gone on to win the second and final Test to level the series.