The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly on Tuesday (October 20) confirmed that the newly renovated Motera stadium in Ahmedabad will host a day-night Test match next year when the England team will visit India for a bilateral series. As per the current schedule, it will be a five-Test series and alongside Ahmedabad the picturesque HPCA stadium in Dharamsala and the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata are also in lines to host matches during the red-ball leg of the tour.
“We have not decided on the venues for the England series, we have some tentative plans, but there is some time and the series is in February, we have time on our hands. The day-night Test will be played in Ahmedabad,” Ganguly told reporters at an event in Kolkata.
Alongside the five-Test series, England will also play three ODIs and three T2oIs during the tour. Meanwhile, owing to a surge in COVID-19 cases in India, the BCCI might host the matches under closed-door bio-secure environment.
Last week, quoting a BCCI official ANI had reported that the day-night Test between India and England would be played either in Ahmedabad or Kolkata. The Apex Council of the BCCI had met virtually on Saturday and the three major areas of focus as per the agenda was the upcoming tour of Australia, England’s visit post the Australia series and starting the Indian domestic season.
“The idea is to create a bio-secure bubble across three to four venues as per permission from the government. The pink-ball Test will be held either in Ahmedabad or Kolkata. That call will be taken at the right time looking at the conditions. But yes, England is coming over to India,” a BCCI official had confirmed ANI.
The BCCI president also added that Board’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) would take place in the coming days and the fate of the Ranji Trophy will be decided then.
“The AGM will happen in the coming days and then it will be decided as to when Ranji Trophy can start,” said Ganguly.
Ganguly further confirmed that the team selection for the Australia tour will take place within ‘a few days’.
“There will be team selection happening in a few days for the series against Australia.”