“It’s going to be a great Test match for everyone.”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly believes that one pink-ball Test in every series is ideal.
Ganguly also said that it will help bring large numbers of crowds in for the longest format of the game.
India and England are due to compete against each other again in a pink-ball Test.
The Test will begin on Wednesday, February 24, 2021, at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Fans will be in attendance for the Test and, according to Sourav Ganguly, the stadium is sold out.
Both India and England go into the pink-ball Test with the four-match series level at 1-1.
Speaking to Star Sports about the pink-ball Test, Sourav Ganguly said:
“Ahmedabad is completely sold out. I speak to Jay Shah and he’s very keen on these Test matches.
“Just for him also cricket is coming back to Ahmedabad after six-seven years because they built a new stadium, and I have told him we have set an example with the pink-ball Test last year in Kolkata, so it cannot go beyond that and we want to see every seat and stand full.
“And that’s what it is, the tickets have gone, as well as for the T20s which will follow the Tests.
“We wanted fans back. We could have had them in the first Test in Chennai but we decided to go with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, who said let’s see how it goes for the first one because it’s our first game after a long time and we’ll open it up for the second Test.
“I know the Gujurat Cricket Association will add a bit more to the cricket, not just with the game but a lot of other things around the game.
“It’s going to be a great Test match for everyone.”
Sourav Ganguly went on to talk about the prospects of pink-ball Tests.
Ganguly said:
“Absolutely. One pink-ball Test in a series is ideal.
“Every generation goes through changes, pink ball is one of the main changes for Test match cricket, and to keep Test match cricket alive.
“I think having a packed Ahmedabad stadium in the next week will be another great sight for everyone.”
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 is due to be played from April. The BCCI will be looking towards having fans attend the premier T20 tournament.
According to Sourav Ganguly, the decision regarding fans will be taken soon.
He said: “This year is going to be big as well because of what it is.
“We’ll see whether we can get the crowd back into the IPL, it’s a decision we’ll have to take very shortly. But it’s going to be another great tournament.”
Before the tournament, a mini-auction will take place in Chennai.
The auction will take place on Thursday, February 18, 2021, and 292 players will go under the hammer.
Already-registered players for the auction are Shakib Al Hasan and Moeen Ali.
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