The fans of the international game got excited after BCCI dropped a hint of organising the first ever day-night Test match in India during their home series against New Zealand starting on Sept. 22, 2016. The India vs New Zealand series schedule was announced on Tuesday but there was no mention of the day-night Test as all the games are slated to begin at 9:30 a.m.
The first ever day-night Test on Indian soil was supposed to be played at the iconic Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. But by the looks of the schedule, the fans will have to wait further for the historical moment in Indian cricket.
BCCI President Anurag Thakur had expressed his interest in arranging the day-night Test, but the Board does not seem to have enough time in their hands to organise the pink-ball match.
However, New Zealand previously had raised concerns about playing a Test match under the floodlights with the pink ball in Indian conditions. Black Caps Cricket had mentioned that their players faced a lot of issues when they had played the first ever pink-ball Test match in the history of the gentlemen's game at the Adelaide Oval against Australia last year. Therefore, they are not really keen on playing a pink-ball Test match against India and that too in Indian conditions.
BCCI have already announced that the Duleep Trophy will be played with the pink-ball later this year and the Board will be needing feedback from the Indian players after playing under the lights. On the basis of their feedback, future plans of hosting a day-night Test match will be chalked out.
"It was said that the Duleep Trophy will be used to get feedback on pink ball. So, it is still important to get the players' feedback for future plans," a top BCCI official was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
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