Amit Shah & Bangladesh PM to attend historic Day-Night test in Kolkata

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee will be attending the "historic" pink ball day & night Test in Kolkata starting on November 22.

BCCI sources told Republic TV that the three top leaders will be attending among other hosts of dignitaries invited by the Board president Sourav Ganguly.

"It was decided long back that the two chiefs of Bengals -- West Bengal and Bangladesh would be attending the meeting along with BCCI Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Now we have confirmation from all of them that they will indeed be attending. In fact BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has personally invited all of them along with some other dignitaries to attend this historic match," BCCI top official confirmed to Republic TV.

Eden Gardens was hosting the first-ever pink ball day-night cricket under the lights in India from November 22 to 26, as Bangladesh Cricket Board had agreed to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly's proposal.

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The BCCI president had requested the BCB if they were keen to play under the lights as "it was high time that the two nations played the Day-Night version."

"BCB has accepted the proposal but it was not a unanimous decision but the majority were in favour it," a senior BCB official confirmed Republic TV.

India and Bangladesh are the only two Test-playing nations which are yet to play under the lights whereas most of the other Test-playing nations have already played under the lights.

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Ganguly was always in favour of hosting day-night cricket in India and it was in his topmost priority list. In fact, as CAB president he wanted to host Duleep Trophy finals at Eden Gardens but for technical reasons, it didn't materialise. Ganguly has maintained that Test cricket must have spectators. With less than 10 per cent tickets sold in an average Day test matches, it was felt by BCCI to change the pattern as more spectators can watch the match after their office work and Test match under the lights was more "watchable and attractive."

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