New Delhi:
In a surprising move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly sent a proposal to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to play their first-ever pink ball Test during the upcoming two-Test series. According to a report published by the Cricbuzz.com, BCCI has proposed that the second Test between India and Bangladesh at Eden Gardens to be the day-night Test. The BCB, however, is yet to respond to the BCCI’s proposal.
The Day-Night Test, played with a Pink Ball, came into realisation during the 2015 Test between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide. The success of the Test, with regards to attendances at the stadium and the television ratings, charted a new course for Test matches.
After being elected as the BCCI president, Sourav Ganguly had also asserted that during his tenure, he will be pushing for the day and night Test. Ganguly said that the current Indian team under Virat Kohli was capable of doing well in the pink-ball Test format.
"I must say that Virat Kohli is agreeable to it. There are reports that he does not want to play day-night Tests which is not the fact. So once the captain of India is agreeable to it, life becomes a lot easier. We will see how we can push it. The game needs to go forward. We all are thinking about this and we will do something about it. I am a firm believer in Day Night Tests. I don't know when that will happen. But till the time I am around, I will be pushing for it," Ganguly said.
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However, the final decision on this will be taken only after the BCB's nod. Speaking about the BCCI's proposal, BCB cricket operations chairman Akram Khan said that they will respond after thinking over it. "We have received the letter two or three days and we will take a decision in this regard but we have not discussed about it. We will let them know about our decision within one or two days," Khan was quoted by the website.
Bangladeshi team is scheduled to tour India for three T20 Internationals and two Tests, starting November 3. While the first Test will be played in Indore, Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host the second.
