• Source:JND
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India are set to host England for the five-match Test series next year, starting on January 25 in Hyderabad but none of them will be played with a pink ball or under lights.

After the conclusion of the Women's Premier League (WPL) auction in Mumbai, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah revealed that due to the short-lasting of the pink-ball Tests, the public interest needed to be developed for the occurrence of under lights Tests in India.

"We will have to increase the amount of interest in the public for the pink-ball Test. If you recall, the (pink-ball) Tests ended in two-three days. Everyone wants to watch a Test match lasting four-five days. Once they get more used to it, we will do more pink-ball Tests," Shah told reporters.

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BCCI secretary mentioned that the board engaged in talks with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to plan out a pink-ball Test in the upcoming tour but it did not happen.

"Last time it was done in Australia, no one has done it since then. We were in talks with England, but we will do it gradually," he added.

India have played four pink-ball Tests, three on home conditions and one against Australia in Adelaide. India lose one and won three Tests while ending up losing their first overseas day-night Test in December 2020.

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India's all four matches lasted not more than three days which BCCI pointed out as one of the reasons to not continue with pink-ball Tests.

India last played the day-night Test against Sri Lanka at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in March last year. The last men's pink-ball was played between New Zealand and England at Bay Ovel earlier his year. So far, only 21 Tests have been played under lights across men's teams.

Indian women's has also played a solitary pink-ball Test against Australia at Queensland in 2021, ending in a draw.

India are currently in South Africa for the all-format series. The first T20I between India and South Africa got washed out due to rain in Durban. After the conclusion of three T20Is and as many ODIs, India will face South Africa in the first Test in Centurion, starting on December 26.