DHAKA, Oct 29, 2019 (BSS)–The Bangladesh Cricket Board has finally
agreed to India’s proposal to play a day-night Test at Eden Gardens in
Kolkata during the upcoming two-match series.
The game, starting on November 22, will be the first day-night Test for
both teams.
Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo said on Tuesday that they are
excited to play day-night Test match, which will be played by pink ball under
light, against India.
BCB officials said earlier they were yet to take any decision on whether
they will take part in a day-night Test match at Eden Gardens during the
upcoming tour of India as they were waiting for the consent and the players
and team management.
“I am talking about the pink-ball Test. As the coach and some of the
players and all the other senior players, we think that it’s a great
opportunity,” Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo said here today.
“I don’t think India have played a pink-ball Test before. We haven’t
played a pink-ball Test. It’s a massive occasion at the Eden Gardens. It will
be new experience for both the teams. So we are very excited about it. It
will be a great occasion under the lights against one of the best team in the
world, probably the best team in the world also. So we are really looking
forward to the challenge,” Domingo added.
Interestingly, this proposal from India comes right after the newly-
appointed BCCI president Sourav Ganguly spoke of his liking for it and
revealed that Virat Kohli was ‘agreeable to it’. This move comes as a u-turn
as, only in 2018, India had rejected the chance to play a pink ball Test in
Adelaide in December that year, stating that they needed to have practiced
for a long period before adjusting to the different conditions.
Coincidentally, Bangladesh too have held that opinion, turning down New
Zealand’s similar such proposal due to lack of match preparation but
according to Domingo sometimes change is the best option.
”So it will be same for both the teams, not a lot preparation time but
an exciting event. Because of the pink-ball, it may help both the teams
little bit close together and we are excited about the opportunity,” Domingo
said
”We know India is a very good Test team. We know that they are probably
the number one Test team in the world. But the uncertainty of playing a pink-
ball Test, both teams don’t know what to expect could work in our
advantage,” he said.
”I have spoken to the players. For sure there have been some concerns.
Some guys said it will be just a few days preparations. There is only two
days between first and second Test….In my time with South Africa, we played
a pink-ball Test in Adelaide with Australia. We had a warm-up game before. We
had few sessions. So it will be a less time to start. Hopefully it may work
for advantage for us. I have worked with pink-ball and hope it will be an
advantage for us,” he said.
”There is a travel day and two practice days. And that’s all at the
moment. During our preparation there will be some pink-ball preparation…
But our focus will be first Test first. Once that completed we will prepare
for the pink-balls,” he concluded.