The Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium was the venue for the first Test match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. There was a lot of runs scored during the course of the Test match as the bowlers found it tough to take wickets. While Bangladesh scored 513 in the first innings, Sri Lanka replied by 713 in the first innings as the pitch degraded in the process. After the conclusion of the Test match, the ICC rated the pitch as below average and graded it a demerit point for the way the game was panned out. 

According to the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong has received one demerit point. Boon has forwarded the examination report to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The demerit point will remain active for the next five-year period and if the Chittagong Divisional Stadium attains the five demerit points during that period, then it will be suspended for 12 months.

As per a Press Release, 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. The pitch did offer occasional slow turn for the spinners early on, but it did not deteriorate as much as would have been expected as the match progressed, resulting in a pitch that too heavily favored the batsmen across the five days.”

The first Test of the two-match series saw five centuries and six half-centuries being scored, resulting in Bangladesh posting 513 and 307 for five, while Sri Lanka amassing a massive 713/9 declared in their only innings. The batsmen dishing out so many runs meant that the match ended in a draw. 

Recently Melbourne and Centurion were two other pitches who were cautioned by the ICC for preparing under par quality pitches. While Melbourne hosted one of the Test matches in the recently concluded Ashes series which Australia won, the Centurion Test match was won by South Africa in a pitch which was very alien to the visitors.