Plans to host a first day-night test in India later this year "remain intact," the Board of Control for Cricket in India's secretary said on Tuesday, "dismissing a local media report that prospective opponents New Zealand had rejected the idea," according to Amlan Chakraborty of REUTERS. In April, the BCCI decided that "one match of a three-test series against New Zealand would be a day-night affair." A local media report claimed New Zealand Cricket "were wary of the dew factor and ground conditions in India during the series scheduled to start in September and had conveyed their reluctance to BCCI officials." BCCI Secretary Ajay Shirke said that "the plan remained very much on." An NZC spokesperson confirmed New Zealand, which played the first pink-ball test against Australia in November, is "committed to a day-night test in India" (REUTERS, 6/14). STUFF's Clay Wilson reported an article published by the Indian Express said that NZC had informed its Indian counterparts of the decision "a few weeks ago" and quoted "a top BCCI official" as confirming the news. The report said, "The New Zealand board is not willing to play day-night Test as they are not comfortable with the Indian conditions." NZC said that "there was no truth to the latest reports" on its position. An NZC spokesperson said, "NZC has taken the precaution of contacting the BCCI to advise statements in the article regarding a day/night test are in no way representative of our position, and that no such comments have been made by our Board. The only comment NZC has made on the matter is that it's supportive of the concept -- and that stance hasn't changed" (STUFF, 6/14).
PAKISTAN DAY-NIGHT: DAWN reported Pakistan's first-class season will "witness 10 day-night affairs" in the '16-17 season of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. The decision is taken to prepare the "country's top-cricketers for the first day-night Test to be played at Brisbane during the tour of Australia later this year." In an "extraordinary move," the Pakistan Cricket Board has increased the players' match fees by 100%. It means that the players competing for the regional fee will earn 50% "of the international match fee of the format" (DAWN, 6/14).
