Pakistan Coach Mike Hesson Slams Mirpur Pitch as “Unacceptable” After T20I Loss to Bangladesh

Pakistan’s head coach, Mike Hesson, criticised the pitch at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, describing it as “unacceptable” for international cricket. This statement came after his team was bowled out for just 110 runs in the first T20I against Bangladesh on July 20, 2025.

Bangladesh chased the target in 15.3 overs, securing a seven-wicket victory led by Parvez Hossain Emon’s unbeaten 56. Hesson admitted Pakistan’s batters misread conditions but insisted the pitch fell short of global standards, potentially hindering Asia Cup and T20 World Cup preparations. “It is not ideal for anybody,” he stated.

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson's post-match press conference.

Pakistan vs Bangladesh, 1st T20I, Mirpur#BANvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/MsECUr6KoU

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Pakistan collapsed to 46/5 by the eighth over, with three run-outs and high-risk shots backfiring. Fakhar Zaman’s 44 off 34 balls provided early momentum, but Hesson noted: “Fakhar Zaman played a few good shots, which gave us a false impression of how the surface was playing. We didn’t adjust well in the middle overs and made poor decisions.” The pitch’s bounce and nip proved challenging, yet Hesson stressed: “Teams are preparing for the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup, and this pitch is simply not acceptable.”

Read: Bangladesh Defeats Pakistan by 7 Wickets in 1st T20I

He argued that such surfaces hinder player development: “Good cricket wickets are needed to develop cricketers. While there were better wickets in the BPL, this pitch doesn’t meet the standard required for international cricket.”

Bangladesh opener Emon refuted Hesson’s assessment: “We didn’t feel it was a bad pitch, as we chased the target down in less than 16 overs. We could have scored 150-160 runs if we batted the full 20 overs.” He credited his team’s adaptability, with a 73-run stand alongside Towhid Hridoy (36) sealing the chase. Bangladesh’s bowlers, led by Taskin Ahmed (3 wickets) and Mustafizur Rahman (2), exploited the conditions effectively.