Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz, second left, starred with ball and bat against Afghanistan in their World Cup match in Dharamsala on Saturday, October 7, 2023. AP
Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz, second left, starred with ball and bat against Afghanistan in their World Cup match in Dharamsala on Saturday, October 7, 2023. AP
Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz, second left, starred with ball and bat against Afghanistan in their World Cup match in Dharamsala on Saturday, October 7, 2023. AP
Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz, second left, starred with ball and bat against Afghanistan in their World Cup match in Dharamsala on Saturday, October 7, 2023. AP

Dharamsala outfield raises concern for remaining Cricket World Cup 2023 matches


  • English
  • Arabic

The outfield at the Dharamsala Stadium was the main talking point on Saturday after Bangladesh eased to a six-wicket win over Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup.

All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored a half-century and took three wickets to secure victory but it was the poor state of the outfield that raised concerns about player safety.

Bangladesh coach Jonathan Trott said spinner Mujeeb Ur Rehman was fortunate to escape without a serious injury after his left knee went into the sandy surface while diving.

The outfield sported a patchy look with heavy sand underneath, discouraging players from diving and sliding.

Trott said he did not feel qualified to "make an assessment" on whether the ground was fit to stage World Cup matches.

But the former England batsman added: "You've got players unsure of whether they can dive."

"And when you've got players worried about getting injured... we are lucky Mujeeb hasn't got a serious knee injury towards the end."

Mehidy accepted the outfield was "a little heavy", adding: "The ball wasn't travelling a lot. But you can't blame the outfield... you have to perform in every situation."

Dharamsala has endured outfield issues for a long time. Earlier this year, it lost the hosting rights for a Test against Australia after the playing field was deemed unfit. Then later in the year, the grass on the outfield was hit by a fungal infection.

The venue will host four more matches, with England, Netherlands, South Africa, India, New Zealand and Australia all set to play there.

In Saturday's match, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan put his side in the driving seat by claiming three key wickets, while Mehidy (3-25) mopped up the tail. Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored for Afghanistan with 47.

Mehidy then played a significant part in Bangladesh's reply with 57 off 73 balls as the 2015 quarter-finalists chased down their target of 157 in 34.4 overs.

"From the start (Afghanistan were 83-1) we didn't expect that," said Mehidy. "Shakib and me did very well. And the first few balls, we got a little bit of turn.

"And after that information was passed on by Shakib that the ball was turning. So, if you bowl on the right track, it might be good for a spinner and obviously for the pace bowlers also. So, we just discuss and think about how to bowl in these conditions."

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

TOURNAMENT INFO

Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier

Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November

UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi

The%20Woman%20King%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Gina%20Prince-Bythewood%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Viola%20Davis%2C%20Thuso%20Mbedu%2C%20Sheila%20Atim%2C%20Lashana%20Lynch%2C%20John%20Boyega%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

PAST 10 BRITISH GRAND PRIX WINNERS

2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQureos%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E33%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESoftware%20and%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%243%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: October 07, 2023, 4:22 PM