Rains may play spoilsport in first pink-ball match in India

The first ever Test match with the pink ball in India seems to be in jeopardy as the MeT Department has forecasted heavy rains and thunderstorms  for at least the first two days of the final of the Super League to be contested between Bhowanipur Club and Mohun Bagan. The Test match was expected to be held between the 18th and 21st of June.

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has been someone who has been outspoken about his views on the pink ball. He also has gone as far as stating that it is the pink ball is something necessary for the preservation of the longest format of cricket. Ganguly has been incumbent as the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) since the untimely death of former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya. The plans of having a domestic competition in Bengal featuring some of the best teams in Bengal were drawn up with the pink ball Test matches in mind.

These matches will start at 2:30 pm local time and will extend into the night and will be played under lights. This will serve as the perfect dress rehearsal for the upcoming Day-Night Test to be played at the same venue during the New Zealand tour.

“There are 60 to 70 percent chances of thunderstorms on Saturday. There will be intermittent showers. It might continue until Sunday,” a Met official said on Thursday.

Also read – Pink ball is here to stay: Dean Jones

“Fifteen days back when I had with Kookaburra, they told me to get the conditions right. They told me to have more grass on the wicket and the pitches which are close to it. Otherwise, it might get scuffed up easily,” the 43-year-old had remarked.