BCB seeks long-term fix for dry Chattogram outfield

“Not too shabby,” New Zealand batter Will Young said while surveying the outfield of Chattogram’s Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium from the boundary ropes. The surface looked dry, the grass appeared to have dissipated in patches, and large stripes could be seen from afar, where it almost mimicked the pitches.

Young showed no immediate concerns though, saying small lacerations on his arms and legs were the only minor issues to deal with.

“It’s [the outfield] going to be fast due to the dryness. Usually, injuries happen when there is wetness, as you can get stuck in the surface,” he further told The Daily Star yesterday.

Beyond player safety, however, the impact of water shortages on one of Bangladesh’s premier venues was evident.

“We haven’t had water supply in four days; it’s a regular problem during this season. WASA try their best, but at times 40 percent of people in the city cannot be served due to shortages,” curator Zahid Reza Babu told The Daily Star.

Rain has offered little relief, with only a brief five-minute spell in the past two weeks. Although the ground was watered after April 9, supply issues resurfaced amid hot and humid conditions -- a pattern, according to Reza, that mirrors last season.

While the outfield appears visibly poor from a distance, ground staff believe the situation is less severe up close. According to sources, the venue requires about two lakh litres of water daily for proper maintenance.

BCB’s former facilities chairman Shahnian Taneem had earlier attempted to address the issue, but plans were stalled by the previous board’s tender and purchase processes. Under the current ad hoc committee, however, parts of that plan are now being implemented, Shahnian said.

The board is planning a water purification plant behind the VIP stand, alongside installing a deep tube well, officials told The Daily Star.

“The purifying plant will give us relief. It’s supposed to provide two lakh litres daily, though how much remains after purification is yet to be seen. Combined with WASA supply, it should be enough,” Reza said.

By evening, as the heat subsided, the outfield was watered and began to look more even ahead of the third ODI today. The board remains optimistic that the water treatment plant will resolve many of the ongoing issues.