India will stage its first ever day-night Test in Kolkata next month against Bangladesh in what the new head of Indian cricket said would be a major boost to the five-day game.
The second Test against Bangladesh starting on November 22 will be played under floodlights at Eden Gardens, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Tuesday.
According to media reports, both teams had to be convinced to take part in what Sourav Ganguly, the former batting star who took over as BCCI chief last week, called "the beginning of something special in Indian cricket."
"For me, as former captain of India and as the current president of BCCI, Test cricket is of utmost priority and we at BCCI will leave no stone unturned to bring this format back to its feet," he added.
"In this effort of ours, day-night Test cricket is a huge step forward and we believe it will bring back the crowds into stadiums and a whole lot of young children to the sport."
Read | Why Sourav Ganguly is the perfect fit as BCCI President
New BCCI secretary Jay Shah said the new board wanted a campaign aimed at "revolutionising Test cricket and this is our first step towards it."
Media reports said India's traditionally influential spinners were reluctant to agree to the pink ball Test because the increased evening dew meant they would have less impact.
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan said the match conditions had been agreed after discussions with the Bangladesh team, who leave for India on Wednesday for three T20 internationals and two Tests.
"We have had a frank and constructive discussion with the players and the team management. I have received a positive response about playing the day-night Test," he said.
Bangladesh coach Russell Domingo said the team is excited.
"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," Domingo told reporters in Dhaka.
"It will be a great occasion under the lights against one of the best teams in the world, probably the best team in the world also. So we are really looking forward to the challenge," he added.
Bangladesh will be without captain and star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was banned by the International Cricket Council Tuesday from all cricket for two years for breaching anti-graft rules.
There have been 11 day-night Tests since the first between Australia and New Zealand in 2015.
Read | ICC bans Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan for two years
Featured image courtesy: AFP/ Punit Paranjpe
