‘Groundsmen ruined the match for us’

Afghanistan A alleged that an 'unprofessional' approach by the groundsmen in the fourth one-dayer denied them a series victory against Bangladesh A. The fourth game of the five-match series was abandoned due to rain at BKSP last Saturday, and the 62-run victory in the final match on Monday at the same venue helped the home side draw the series against the visiting side.

In the fourth match, Bangladesh A were bundled out for 176 runs in 40 overs in a 44-over-a-side curtailed game and in reply, Afghanistan A scored 57 runs in 8.2 overs without loss before the match was called off due to rain. Afghanistan came into the fourth game leading the series 2-1.

Afghanistan A captain Nasir Jamal expressed his disappointment  over the incident while talking to The Daily Star at a local hotel  yesterday.

"The fourth one-dayer would have been an easy win for  us, but it started raining. They [Bangladesh A] posted a target of 187  [176] and after the first eight overs we had scored 60  without loss. I  am unhappy about the performance of the groundsmen in the fourth one-day  match. The rain was not heavy. When the rain stopped, the guys did not  remove the covers professionally. I think they knew how to remove the  covers but they did not do a very good job," observed Jamal.

"We  complained. When the match referee said that the match was called off, I  told him that the groundsmen ruined this match for us," he added.

An eyewitness told The Daily Star on condition of anonymity yesterday: "There was a light shower for 15 to 20 minutes. There was water on the covers and the groundsmen were supposed to remove the cover carefully when the rain stopped, but they removed the covers in such a way that the water spilled onto the pitch and inside the 30-yard circle. That was the reason it was not possible to complete the match." When contacted, match referee Showkatur Rahman Chinu would not comment regarding the incident, and only said that there was an observation in the captain's report that was similar to what Jamal said yesterday.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said that he was not aware of such happenings at BKSP.

"I am not aware of it. We also didn't get any official complaint but we will seriously look into the matter if we get any such complaint," Chowdhury told The Daily Star.

Afghanistan A skipper Jamal, however, thanked the BCB for their hospitality and the arrangements the board made during the tour.

"The facilities and hospitality were amazing, thanks to the BCB. I hope ACB (Afghanistan Cricket Board) and BCB will arrange more matches for the youngsters. And yes, Bangladesh played well in the last match," he added.

It was the first time that such allegations have come from the visiting side about an international match, although it is nothing new in the domestic circuit.