Dhaka - The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday penalised the "below
average" pitch in Chittagong after batsmen plundered more than 1 500
runs during last week's Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Five centuries and six half-centuries were smashed over five days at
the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium before the teams accepted a draw in
the opening Test of the two-match series.
Sri Lanka - who declared at a colossal 713 for nine in their first and only innings - criticised the pitch after the match.
ICC match referee David Boon said the pitch "provided no seam
movement to the fast bowlers with the new ball and also lacked carry and
bounce throughout the match."
He added that the pitch provided "occasional slow turn for the
spinners early on" but did not deteriorate as expected over the course
of the Test.
That resulted "in a pitch that too heavily favoured the batsmen
across the five days," Boon said in an ICC statement issued on Tuesday.
Cricket's governing body gave one demerit point to the Chittagong pitch, rating it "below average".
Any ground that receives five demerits from the ICC over five years is suspended from hosting international cricket for a year.
Chittagong is the second Bangladeshi venue to be rebuked in just half a year.
In September, the ICC rated the outfield of Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla
National Stadium "poor" after the hosts defeated Australia by 20 runs in
a Test match.