The International Cricket Council has slammed the Mirpur pitch used during New Zealand's second test against Bangladesh last week, describing the surface as "unsatisfactory".
The Blackcaps battled to a gritty four-wicket victory over the hosts to level the two-test series, grabbing valuable World Test Championship points in a hostile environment designed to suit Bangladesh's spin attack.
Thirty-six wickets fell in less than four days, with the entire second day and the third morning lost to rain, and play twice ending early for bad light.
Afterwards, NZ captain Tim Southee did not hold back in his assessment of the venue, describing it as "probably the worst wicket I've come across in my career".
"There's a number of ways I could describe that wicket," he said. "For the match to be over in 170 overs is a fair reflection of that wicket.
"It wasn't great. It certainly wasn't an even battle between bat and ball."
The world governing body agrees, awarding one demerit point to Mirpur International Stadium. If a venue incurs six demerit points, it faces a 12-month suspension from international play.
"The outfield was very good and held up extremely well with the rain," reported ICC match referee and former Australian international David Boon. "However, it appeared that the pitch may have been under prepared, as it was not hard and was covered in grass clippings on day one.
"From the first session onwards, throughout the remainder of the match, the bounce was inconsistent, with numerous balls bursting the surface. Deliveries from spin-bowlers often went over the batter's shoulder when playing forward and then occasionally stayed very low."
Bangladesh Cricket Board has 14 days to appeal the decision.
