Pakistan coach Mike Hesson slams Mirpur pitch after crushing defeat

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson didn’t hold back after his team’s 7-wicket drubbing by Bangladesh in the first T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, lashing out at the pitch conditions and calling them “not up to international standard.”

In the wake of Pakistan’s dismal batting collapse — dismissed for just 110 runs, their lowest total against Bangladesh in T20Is — Hesson pointed the finger at the playing surface, suggesting it does more harm than good for the development of quality cricket.

“This type of wicket is not of international standard,” Hesson said bluntly after the match. “Playing on such pitches won’t help you improve. You have the Asia Cup ahead, and playing on surfaces like this won't help you succeed on the big stage.”

Hesson acknowledged that Bangladesh might continue to dominate at home on such tracks but questioned the long-term merit of this strategy.

“Bangladesh may find success on these kinds of pitches, but this is by no means an ideal wicket,” he said, suggesting the approach favors short-term wins over sustainable growth.

The coach also highlighted the stark contrast between pitches used for international fixtures and those prepared for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at the same venue.

“In the BPL, good wickets are usually prepared here. But in international matches, Bangladesh keeps producing these slow and low surfaces to gain a home advantage. That’s not right,” he added.

Hesson made it clear that while fixing Bangladesh’s cricket system isn’t his concern, he believes in upholding global standards.

“I haven’t come here to fix Bangladesh cricket—that’s not my job. But when we talk about the global standard of the game, such wickets are not the way forward.”

Interestingly, Hesson's critique echoed the frustration of Bangladesh captain Litton Das, who just a day earlier had slammed the same pitch, remarking, “Many players’ careers have gone downhill playing here.”

As the series progresses, all eyes will be on how the pitch conditions evolve — and whether teams can adapt ahead of bigger challenges like the Asia Cup. For now, though, the Sher-e-Bangla surface has become the center of an escalating debate over fairness, player development, and cricketing integrity.