The Impressive TimesNew Delhi [India], July 21 : A brewing controversy has emerged between Pakistan and Bangladesh after the first T20I of the ongoing series, with starkly opposing views over the nature of the pitch at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
Following Pakistan’s crushing 7-wicket defeat, white-ball head coach Mike Hesson openly criticised the playing surface, calling it “not up to international standards” and “unacceptable” for high-profile cricket matches.
“It is not ideal for anybody. Teams are preparing for the Asia Cup or the T20 World Cup. This pitch is not acceptable,” Hesson said in a blunt post-match press interaction.
Batting first, Pakistan managed just 110 runs in 19.3 overs, crumbling under tight bowling and poor shot selection. Despite a brief attacking start by Fakhar Zaman, the middle order failed to adapt, and three run-outs further compounded their misery. Bangladesh chased down the target with ease in just 15.3 overs, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
While Hesson acknowledged his team’s poor performance, he placed part of the blame on the surface:
“We didn’t help ourselves through the middle… we probably didn’t assess how challenging the pitch was for high-risk shots.”
In response, Bangladesh opener Parvez Hossain Emon countered Hesson’s remarks, insisting that the pitch played fairly and the problem lay with Pakistan’s failure to adjust.
“We didn’t feel it was a bad pitch. We chased it in less than 16 overs. We could’ve scored 150-160 if we batted full 20. We assessed it better,” said Emon.
Emon’s comments reflect Bangladesh’s long-standing strategy of using home conditions to their advantage, particularly on bowler-friendly surfaces in Dhaka. He added that the pitch suited bowlers, but good batting and adaptability were the key differences.
Hesson, however, continued his sharp criticism, pointing out that such pitches don’t serve long-term development goals for any team — including the hosts.
“You need good cricket wickets to develop cricketers. There were some good wickets during the BPL. But this isn’t one of them. It won’t help Bangladesh when they play abroad,” Hesson said.
Despite the pitch drama, Hesson conceded that Pakistan’s poor decisions were just as much to blame as the conditions.
“It still doesn’t take away the fact that you have to perform better on any surface. We’ll reflect as a team,” he concluded.
The next two matches in the series are likely to attract even more attention — not just for the on-field action but for how the pitch debate continues to evolve.
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