New Zealand Cricket expresses willingness to play day-night pink ball test in India

New Zealand Cricket has expressed its willingness to play a day-night test match with the pink ball during their tour of India later this year. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had raised the possibility of hosting a first ever day-night test in India. BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said they wanted to host the pink ball game in order to attract more spectators.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White confirmed that he had spoken to Indian officials regarding the pink ball test at the International Cricket Council meeting in Dubai last week.

"We've said we are receptive to the idea. We will work closely with the players, but in saying that, if the trials look good and India are comfortable with the trials it is very positive from our point of view. We believe day-night test cricket has a big future in the game," said White, as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.

The pink balls will be first tested in domestic matches before New Zealand's arrival, with Mumbai emerging as the most likely venue to host the match should the two national cricket boards decide to go ahead.

"We have decided that we will play one day/night test match with the pink ball against New Zealand later this year. Before that the Duleep Trophy will act as a dress rehearsal for the day/night test match," said BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur.

Australia and New Zealand played the first day-night fixture using the pink ball in 2015, which was the most successful of the summer, with the crowds flocking the stadiums for the first three days of the Test.

India's arch-rivals Pakistan are also set to play with the pink ball when they tour Australia later this year.