Tigers eye more sporting wickets at home after Ireland win

The pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city hogged the headlines leading up to the second Test against Ireland. It had all the reason too considering the black-soil wicket prepared for the home series against West Indies ahead of the Ireland series received criticism from all corners and as a result it did look like the home side would prepare a similar wicket for the Irishmen, according to Cricbuzz.

Since May 2022 when the hosts locked horns with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh played five Test matches at this venue prior to the Ireland series and none of them reached the fifth day's play. That only validates the fact that the hosts always backed their tried and tested formula against visiting teams at this venue.

However, it was not the case during the second Test against Ireland as the surface had something for everyone. Batters were able to pile on the runs, the spinners were effective as the game went on and most importantly, the match did enter Day 5. Former national skipper Khaled Mashud, BCB's grounds committee chairman, told reporters following the game that they are bound to produce sporting wickets.

"We will obviously try to produce this type of wicket going forward,"

said Masud. Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto welcomed it with both hands and insisted that Bangladesh

needs these surfaces more frequently to grow as a Test nation.