BCB leaning towards designated Test venues?

Tests at home have gained more priority than ever due to the current World Test Championship model. Every point counts and Bangladesh, currently fourth, are also concerned about the four home Tests against West Indies and England remaining in the cycle.

Gaining a home advantage is more important than ever, and the BCB is pondering using Sylhet instead of Chattogram for one of the two Tests against England in February next year.

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“Sylhet is a likely venue but we have not declared or finalised it yet,” a BCB official informed when asked about the prospective venue for the England Tests. While Mirpur has been a fruitful venue for the Tigers in Tests, the venue in Chattogram has not produced results in favour of the Tigers.

With Test Championship points now really important for the Tigers if they are to make the Test Championship final, Chattogram’s Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium has stayed out of discussion.

Conditions play an important role in Tests and Chattogram has been a headache, with water supply also an issue at the venue. Even the upcoming Tests against West Indies have been given to Mirpur and Sylhet, which shows that when it comes to Tests, these two venues are now far more likely.

“We don’t play Tests at Chittagong because the wickets there are too flat,” a BCB official said on conditions of anonymity. It gives the reflection that even Bangladesh’s burgeoning pace attack ammunitions are not quite enjoying Tests in the port city.

Test cricket is now built on results, and former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been a strong advocate of established Test centres for India’s matches over the years. After Bangladesh’s triumph over Australia in Darwin, he tweeted: “Damn good from Bangladesh and this reiterates the value of designated Test centres. The conditions in Darwin have caught the Aussies by surprise.”

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Chattogram has produced a few surprises for Tigers, most notably when West Indies chased down 395 despite some assistance for spinners on the fifth day after a Kyle Mayers double ton in 2021.

Members of the team management have informed that they would like some spin and pace balance in the upcoming home Tests against West Indies.

Tigers played 26 Tests in Chattogram, winning just three games to date and losing 16 Tests. Seven ended in draws on flat surfaces that often failed to produce results. It can be argued that it has not been a happy hunting ground.

Bangladesh have played six Tests in Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, winning three and losing three. But they have secured important Test Championship results at the venue with wins over New Zealand and Pakistan in 2023 and 2026 respectively.

While Bangladesh may not yet be talking about designated Test venues, circumstances are dictating that BCB lean on Dhaka and Sylhet when Tests come.