The Shere Bangla National Stadium last received a demerit point in early 2018 for a Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Test. In 2021 alone, however, the venue received seven “average” ratings in ODIs and T20Is.

Match referee David Boon, after consulting with the captains of both teams, submitted his report to the ICC expressing the concerns of the match officials.

“The outfield was very good and held up extremely well with the rain,” Boon’s report said. “However, it appeared that the pitch may have been under prepared, as it was not hard and was covered in grass clippings on day one. From the first session onwards, throughout the remainder of the match the bounce was inconsistent with numerous balls bursting the surface. Deliveries from spin bowlers often went over the batter’s shoulder when playing forward and then occasionally stayed very low.”