Cricket

Bangladesh's recent T20I defeats against India have sparked a debate within the team and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) about the need for better pitches at home. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and pacer Taskin Ahmed have both emphasized the importance of playing on high-quality surfaces to improve their batting and overall performance in the shortest format.After the 86-run loss in Delhi, Taskin stressed that Bangladesh's players need to get used to posting high totals on better pitches. He admitted that the team has "a lot of room for improvement" and that they rely heavily on a few key players to contribute to the total."We have informed the board, so I am sure they are thinking about [better pitches]," Taskin said. "They gave us hope that they will make things better. It is up to them how they will improve conditions back home."Taskin also pointed out the contrast between Bangladesh's batting performance and India's, who despite losing early wickets, managed to score 222 runs. He attributed this to India's experience playing on good batting pitches in the Indian Premier League (IPL)."Most matches in IPL are high-scoring. They know how to chase big targets, and build high scores," Taskin said. "What [scores like] 130-150 is for us, is 180-200 for them. We need to grow this habit [of scoring big], but I hope we have better home conditions so that we develop the ability to score and chase big targets."The lack of quality pitches in Bangladesh has also affected the team's bowling, particularly the spinners. Taskin expressed concern that the spinners had a bad day in Delhi, which cost Bangladesh the game. He also acknowledged that the team is not adapting quickly enough to better batting conditions."We haven't improved in T20s. It is our failure," he said. "Regardless of wickets back home, we are not doing well in better conditions. We are trying hard to improve, and we are hoping we can improve. That's all we can do."The BCB has taken note of the players' concerns and is considering the future of the Shere Bangla National Stadium's curator. The board is also exploring ways to improve the quality of pitches at home to help the team develop the skills necessary to compete against top teams like India.

The 2024 T20 World Cup, a tournament that witnessed India's triumph over the USA, has left a trail of questions in its wake, particularly regarding the US leg. The ICC Board is set to scrutinize the alleged cost overruns and accountability for the inflated expenses.Initially, the ICC Board approved a budget of $40-50 million for the US leg, with $15 million allocated for operational costs and $30 million for the temporary stadium construction. However, on the eve of the tournament, T20 World Cup USA Inc., the entity responsible for running the US leg, requested an additional $20 million. This request raised concerns among board directors, who questioned why no red flags were raised earlier.According to an official involved in the tournament's organization, the $20 million was not additional funding but a cash flow support loan. However, several directors, including CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow and ICC deputy chairman Imran Khwaja, expressed reservations about the inflated expenditure.The questioning extends beyond the US leg. Directors are expected to highlight the tournament's image damage due to questionable pitch quality and empty stands during the Caribbean leg. Despite fresh surfaces, the slow and uneven pitches raised concerns about their suitability for T20 cricket.Another issue was the lack of communication between the CWI-appointed LOC and T20 World Cup USA Inc. as the tournament progressed. The absence of Andy Atkinson, the ICC's pitch consultant, also raised concerns about the quality control of the surfaces.The ICC Board's review of the tournament will focus on accountability and answering questions. CWI, as the main host, and senior ICC management will be under scrutiny. The ICC's goal of exploiting the untapped American market and using the US leg as a dress rehearsal for the 2028 Olympics will also be evaluated.