Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud has criticised the national team management’s decision to prepare black-soil wickets for the recent ODI series against the West Indies, warning that such conditions will do little to prepare the team for the 2027 ICC World Cup.
Bangladesh defeated West Indies 2-1 in the three-match ODI series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, where the slow, turning pitches heavily favoured the home side. But Mahmud, who has previously served as Bangladesh’s head coach and team director, believes the short-term success could come at a long-term cost.
This won’t pay dividends in the long run. I think playing on this kind of wicket will hardly pay dividends in the long run if you take the bigger picture into consideration.
Mahmud added: "The next World Cup will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia — surfaces that will have pace and bounce, not like the ones we saw against the West Indies."
Mahmud also pointed out that Bangladesh’s fast bowlers, who will be crucial in those conditions, were underused during the ODI series.
“Our pacers didn’t even complete their full quota of overs in the ODI series, and they are the ones expected to call the shots in South Africa and Zimbabwe,” he said.
Success at Home, Struggles Abroad
While Bangladesh found success on the slow Dhaka tracks, the story was starkly different in the T20I series at Chattogram, where West Indies bounced back to sweep the series 3-0 on pitches that offered more even bounce and pace.
The West Indies played on slightly better surfaces in Chattogram, and we saw the result. If we can’t dare to play on proper wickets even against a team like West Indies, how much have we really improved as a cricketing nation?
Bangladesh’s ODI Rhythm Under Scrutiny
There was a time when Bangladesh’s most consistent format was One-Day Internationals, but recent results suggest the team has lost its rhythm. Inconsistency in conditions, team selection, and approach have all contributed to their struggles.
Mahmud’s comments highlight a growing concern among Bangladesh cricket observers — that domestic comfort is being prioritised over international preparedness.
Eye on the 2027 ICC World Cup
The 2027 ODI World Cup, to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, will feature 14 teams. Of these, eight sides, including hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, will qualify directly, while the remaining four will come through the global qualifiers.
Namibia, despite being a co-host, will not receive an automatic berth, meaning Bangladesh’s path to qualification could depend heavily on maintaining a strong ICC ODI ranking by March 31, 2027.
Mahmud’s Final Word: Win Smart, Not Safe
Yes, winning is important to secure direct qualification, but if we cannot challenge ourselves on true wickets, it’s hard to say how far we’ve come as a cricketing nation.
His message was clear, victories on familiar turf are meaningless if they don’t prepare Bangladesh for the challenges that lie ahead.
