The Bangladesh Premier League matches in Chittagong have become uncertain this year due to the insufficient floodlight at the proposed venue MA Aziz Stadium, officials said on Thursday.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board had planned to hold 10 BPL matches at the stadium as the city’s main cricket venue, the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, is currently undergoing renovation.
MA Aziz Stadium, Chittagong’s first Test venue, has not hosted any serious cricket matches in the last 10 years and is currently holding football league games. But the BCB has no choice but to return to the place as there is no alternative to them.
BCB officials said that the floodlights at the stadium is not sufficient for holding a cricket match at night as it requires at least 2,400 lux at the centre of the pitch and a minimum 2,000 lux in the 30-yard circle. The minimum requirement of intensity of illumination near the boundary rope is 1,600 lux.
The lights were set up in a way it can only host a football match, said the official, adding that for a cricket match it must have to be on the pitch, which is not the case here.
Ismail Haider Mallick, secretary of BPL governing council, said they have asked the National Sports Council to improve the lighting facilities to enable them to hold BPL matches at this ground
‘Due to its uncertainty we have still not been able to announce the BPL fixtures officially,’ Mallick told New Age on Thursday.
It was learnt that, apart from lights, the stadium has some other problems which could stand in the way of BPL matches. Officials said the playing surface is uneven and they have only two pitches at the centre available for use. It also seriously lacked media facilities.
-With New Age input
