Quality and supply of pink balls a deterrent as BCCI faces challenges of hosting D/N Test

While Australia hosted the first Pink Ball Test under lights, only India and Bangladesh, apart from two new Test-playing nations, Ireland and Afghanistan, are yet to play a pink-ball Test. While India's opposing tendency had a part to play in it, the logistical challenges can not be ignored too as SG failed to make a proper Pink ball for the Duleep Trophy that was played under lights.

However, that has also put SG under a spot. In a rather fast move, BCCI asked BCB to turn the second India-Bangladesh Test at the Eden Gardens a D/N affair, but arranging quality pink balls that will work in Indian conditions is a huge logistical concern for now. The board started with SG balls and subsequently tried out the Dukes ball in the Duleep Trophy but none of the experiments had been successful. 

"The Indian grounds are not as soft as the ones in England or Australia. They are rough and the balls didn't retain shape and colour after 20-30 overs," a top BCCI official told TOI.

In this scenario, if the day-night Test is given a go-ahead, importing pink balls - Dukes or Kookaburra - is an option as the board needs a decent 'library' of balls to host the game.

"The board will need over 24 new balls at least to give to the teams for practice and play the match. Then there's the need to have a library where you have replaceable balls at any point. That's the tough part," the official said.