The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah is not in favour of hosting pink-ball Tests. Shah pointed out that the pink-ball Tests held in India have been one-sided and the spectators want to see a game that ends in four to five days.
India have hosted three pink-ball Tests so far. India defeated Bangladesh and Sri Lanka within three days. The last pink-ball Test in India was against England in 2021 where the hosts registered a comprehensive 10-wicket win.
“We will have to increase the amount of interest in the public for the pink-ball Test. If you recall, the (pink-ball) Tests ended in two-three days. Everyone wants to watch a Test match lasting four-five days. Once they get more used to it, we will do more pink-ball Tests,” Shah told the reporters in Mumbai on the sidelines of Womens Premier League (WPL) auction.
The last pink-ball Test was between England and New Zealand in February 2023. It was a one-sided encounter as well with visitors winning it by 267 runs. On the other hand, India’s last pink-ball Test was back in 2021. The Virat Kohli-led Indian side was bundled out for 36 in Adelaide by Australia.
However, Shah is not completely against hosting a pink-ball Test and revealed that the board has been in talks with the England Cricket Board (ECB).
“Last time it was done in Australia, no one has done it since then. We were in talks with England, but we will do it gradually,” he said.
The runners-up of the previous two World Test Championships (WTC), India are currently second on the points table in the current cycle. The Rohit Sharma-led side will take on South Africa in the two-Test series starting December 26.
England will tour India for a long five-day Test series next year starting January 15. It will be interesting to see if the BCCI converts one of them into a Day-Nigh Tests. The venues of the five Tests are in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Ranchi, and Dharamsala.
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