Former India wicket-keeper and current BCCI general manager (cricket operations) Syed Saba Karim revealed on Tuesday that the board was exploring the idea of hosting day-night Tests and to their bit to save longest-format.
“We are exploring the possibility,” Karim was quoted as saying by The Times of India. “There is a strong reason why we should have day-night Tests. If you look at it from a global perspective, then there are other nations who have gone ahead and played day/night Tests with some excellent results. They drew a large attendance.
“The ICC, I believe, has come up with a statement that all of us need to sit together to work out a system to save Test cricket. One of the suggestions was to have day-night Tests,” he added.
The former India player who took up the administrative role last year said that the focus for the board was to develop the feeder system to the senior team. Karim said that the India ‘A’ teams will shadow their senior counterparts.
“We want India ‘A’ to travel to the same country where the Indian team is supposed to tour later, so that some of our players can get acclimatised to the conditions,” he said.
“If need be, some of our Test regulars can go with our ‘A’ team to get exposure to those conditions. Before the England tour, we are sending an India ‘A’ team there,” Karim added.
On the domestic front, the board is planning to get state associations adopt a central contract system for its players, male and female. He added that the number of days for live coverage of domestic cricket too shall rise in the upcoming season. “Right now it stands at 55 days. It’ll definitely go above 100. That includes men’s cricket, women’s cricket as well as junior cricket.”
In the captains and coaches conclave held on Tuesday, most attendees had stressed on the need for more games during the season as it helps the teams stage comebacks and add value to the tournament. Karim said that from the upcoming season knockouts will be played over two legs, in the home and away format.
Karim said the board is keen on getting Inter-University cricket back into focus. Plans are afoot to have the Vizzy Trophy telecast live.
“We’ve had some very good discussions with the Association of Indian Universities on this issue. We are getting the finals to be televised. We also need support from colleges in terms of attendance. This is the first time we are sending national selectors to watch the Vizzy Trophy games,” he said.