Internet Desk: BCCI shows a character of unprofessionalism when they announced the fixtures for the upcoming India-NZ series in September and October. Today in the afternoon at 12:25 p.m. as per the original schedule announced by the BCCI, the second Test was to be played in Indore and the third in Kolkata, but the two games were swapped later in the evening ostensibly in view of the Puja celebrations in Kolkata at the time of the third Test.
CAB officials were quick to notice that and send an email to BCCI to reschedule the fixture of the Test matches. Then, within 3 hours BCCI rectified the error and with the concern of CAB, BCCI send a revised schedule of the whole fixture where Eden Gardens will now host the second test match from 30th Sept to 4th Oct.
Now, the question arises is that in the month of September in Kolkata, its the business end of the monsoon season. There is a high chance of heavy rain during the test match which may affect the test match proceedings as well as pre-match pitch preparation. Last year, the India-South Africa 3rd T20 match on 8th October at Eden Gardens was washed out due to few minutes of passing shower without a ball being bowled.
Eden Gardens curator, Sujan Mukherjee said, ” The conditions will be tough but for the pride of Eden we will have to put extra effort for the sake of the match. Eden’s ground condition has changed a lot in the last 10 months. As, because the test match is to be held in the last week of September, so we will have to take special care of the wicket.”
CAB joint-secretary, Avishek Dalmiya said, ” In the past matches have been played at Eden during this time, so there will be no problem in hosting the match. I feel it won’t be rain affected. And llast year the India-South Africa was washed out due to wet outfield, not due to rain. The pitch and outfield was not covered properly.”
Meanwhile, all Tests will be 10 a.m starts, confirming that Anurag Thakur’s stated plans for India to host their inaugural day-night Test in Kolkata during this tour will have to wait for a nod from a more amenable board.
The three Tests against New Zealand are among 13 that Virat Kohli’s side will play at home over the year. England (five Tests), Australia (four) and Bangladesh (one) are also slated to visit India, with a day-night Test against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in the pipeline.
India will also play five One-Day Internationals against the visiting New Zealand side over two weeks, in Dharamsala (October 16), Delhi (October 19), Mohali (October 23), Ranchi (October 26) and Visakhapatnam (October 29). None of the matches will be held under floodlights.
India will return from their tour of West Indies, their first under new coach Anil Kumble, on August 23. The domestic season for 2016-17 will kick off in September with the Duleep Trophy, which will be played for the first-time ever with a pink ball and under lights, with several players from the national side expected to take part.The BCCI as the look of it wants the First-class tournament to be played before India play a home Test series against New Zealand, but will the monsoon season be the perfect time for it?
The Duleep Trophy was cancelled last year due to a busy calendar as well as the BCCI’s conflicts and matters. But this year as well, the BCCI’s task of hosting the tournament under lights, at proper venues and with the Pink ball, might again be a tough task. Only recently, the BCCI made its decision of scheduling a Mini IPL overseas in the month of September, when its working committee met in Dharamsala.