It has been quite a busy job for the newly elected BCCI President Sourav Ganguly. Since his appointment, he has already made a few changes and managed to convince Team India to play their first-ever day-night Test. He is also currently planning to arrange an ODI Super Series in 2021. Ganguly has suggested arranging a four-nation ‘ODI Super Series’ where India will lock horns with England, Australia and one other top team in 2021.
Cricket Australia (CA) executive Kevin Roberts has termed Ganguly’s idea as innovative and showed interest in participating in tournaments like these.
“I think it’s an example of the innovative thinking coming out of the BCCI with Sourav Ganguly as president, In his very short time, only a couple of months, we have already seen India commit to and host a day-night Test in Kolkata, so a brilliant result there. And now a suggestion around the Super Series, another potential innovation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has sent a proposal to the BCCI to make four-day Tests mandatory as part of the World Test Championship from 2023. Ganguly informed it is now too early to say anything and insisted to let it know later.
When asked about his views on four-day Tests, Ganguly said:
“First, we will have to see the proposal, let it come and then we will see. It’s too early to say. Can’t comment just like this,” he said.
The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) cricket committee will formally consider trimming Tests to four days from five for the 2023-2031 cycle. The cricket board wanting to stage more global events, the BCCI’s demands for an expanded bilateral calendar, the proliferation of T20 leagues around the world and the cost of hosting a five-day game are some of the factors contributing to the need for a four-day game.
The BCCI president also gave no update on the formation of the Cricket Advisory Committee, which is supposed to appoint the national selectors.
A four-day Test is not a new concept with the last one played between England and Ireland earlier this year. South Africa and Zimbabwe have also played one back in 2017.
