DHAKA, Aug 10, 2025 (BSS)-The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to 
prepare sporting wickets at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

In a bid to materialize the agenda, the BCB brought back Tony Hemming, who 
resigned in July last year. The BCB is giving Hemming the responsibility of 
'Head of Turf Management', replacing Gamini de Silva, who worked for a long 
time. 

BCB Media Committee Chairman Iftikhar Rahman Mithu clarified about moving 
away from Gamini, "If we were happy (with Gamini), then we would not have 
gone to Tony Hemming. We are in the process of improvement. We are trying to 
improve in all departments."

"We definitely think that the Mirpur wicket is a problem for us. Our 
president or everyone thinks so."

The traditional slow and low nature of the Mirpur wicket did not change in 
the last series against Pakistan. 

The sluggish nature of the wicket prompted Pakistan coach Mike Hesson to call 
the Mirpur wicket below international standards.

Cricket Operations chairman Nazmul Abedeen Fahim said that they are on the 
way to improve the standard of Mirpur wicket, " To be honest, when we played 
against Pakistan this time, our head coach was very disappointed with the 
wicket."

"Because, we know that we won't get the ideal preparation from playing here. 
Therefore we will play with the Netherlands in Sylhet (later this month), not 
in Mirpur. We also played against the New Zealand 'A' team in Sylhet (last 
May), where the conditions were similar to theirs."

He added: 'We do not want to compromise regarding this. We will play on a 
good wicket even if we face challenges." 

Fahim also said that the BCB has leaned towards Hemming to ensure a good 
wicket, 'I have heard good things about Tony Hemming from many people. I went 
to Pakistan and saw the wicket that Hemming built there, they have had PSL 
there, more tournaments, and even after that, the conditions I saw towards 
the end were so good."

"The wickets in Pakistan are so beautiful and clean. It was a matter of 
fascination to see all this in reality. Tony Hemming is a really great 
curator."

Fahim, however, didn't want to blame Gamini.

"The thing is not that Gamini didn't try but he may have a limitation that he 
couldn't overcome. That's why he couldn't do what we wanted."

"But it's time to move on. Because perhaps a good wicket helps play better 
cricket more than a good coach. If there were better wickets earlier, maybe a 
lot of things would have gone better. Now we can hope for that."