West Indies Spinner Akeal Hosein Mocks Mirpur Pitch: "Thought Something Was Wrong With My TV"

Dhaka: West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein has aimed a humorous jab at the unusually dark, spin-friendly pitch at Mirpur's Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium during the recent ODI series against Bangladesh. Hosein, who wasn't part of the first match's squad, recounted his bewilderment while watching it from home, stating he initially thought his television's color settings were faulty due to the pitch's black appearance.

The comment came after Hosein was called into the squad on short notice and played a starring role in the dramatic Super Over victory in the second ODI on October 21, 2025. His lighthearted criticism adds to the ongoing discussion about the state of the pitches in the series.

Initial shock from home

Hosein, who arrived in Dhaka mere hours before the second match, shared his first impressions of the venue's surface. "I turned on my TV and the first thing I did was check if it was broken," he said in a post-match press conference. "The pitch looked completely black. I thought, 'Something's definitely wrong with my TV.' It was quite a surprise, to be honest".

A tricky surface for everyone

Despite his witty observation, the spinner acknowledged the inherent difficulty of the turning wicket. While it offers assistance for spinners, the margin for error is minimal. "If you're spinning the ball too much, it spins away from the bat, spins away from the stumps," Hosein explained. He added that a fractionally short delivery can be easily punished, allowing batters to cut and pull.

Victory and a call for better cricket

Hosein put his money where his mouth was in the second ODI, defending 11 runs in a Super Over to seal a thrilling one-run victory for the West Indies. While celebrating the win, he reiterated his desire for better playing conditions. "At the end of the day, all we want is good cricket," he stated. "Yes, I'm a bowler, but I bat as well".

This sentiment echoes past criticism of Mirpur pitches, with some officials and commentators also finding them "unsatisfactory". However, Hosein's comments highlight the dual-edged nature of such surfaces—while they can be advantageous for spin bowlers, they ultimately hinder the display of high-quality cricket from both sides.