Update: What prompted SG to delay the delivery of Pink balls to BCCI?
XtraTime Web Desk: Reputed cricket gear manufacturing company Sanspareils Greenlands (SG) has delayed the delivery of the Pink balls to BCCI due to logistical reasons. The Meerut based company was supposed to deliver the first lot of Pink balls to BCCI by November 07. But due to logistical reasons it will now be delivered by this weekend. SG will be supplying 72 pink balls to BCCI.
The idea behind an early delivery was to allow both India and Bangladesh cricketers enough time to prepare for their first Day/Night Test. A gap of only 3 days between the first Test at Indore and the Day/Night Test in Kolkata might even prompt the teams to keep special practice sessions with the pink ball before the first Test.
The SG pink ball will be used for the first time in the historic India-Bangladesh Day/Night Test match at Eden Gardens Kolkata starting on November 22. The test match will not only be the first day/night affair for both the sides but it will also mark the first official appearance of SG pink balls. In the 11 Day/Night Tests played so far, only the Kookaburra and Duke pink balls have been used. The pink balls used in India between 2016-18 seasons of Duleep Trophy were also manufactured by Kookaburra.