BCCI, CA to discuss day/night Test

MUMBAI: In the coming week, Mumbai is all set to play host to a meeting of four cricket boards that will have the potential to change the course of the game, its multiple formats and the future calendars.The BCCI — led by its president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah — will be the hosts as officials from the England Cricket Board (ECB), Cricket Australia (CA) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) arrive here.Following are the points on the agenda at the meeting that has an informal air to it: A) Whether or not to pursue with the idea of a four-day Test; B) Pursuing with the idea of a four-nation marquee tournament; C) Clearly demarcating windows for their respective leagues such as the IPL, Big Bash and the upcoming Hundred; D) Discuss an upcoming (informal) meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) directors in Dubai on January 16.Those in the know say all meetings have the invisible hand of cricket’s most influential broadcaster who sees "substance" in the ideas being brought to the table.When it comes to changing the format of a Test from five to four days, TOI understands that CA is "in favour" of it, ECB is "open to discuss" it; CSA is "content" at being part of the discussion, considering there’s a new administration in place; BCCI is "simply happy to host and listen", thanks to an extremely impressive presentation that was made to the office-bearers very recently.In the case of the marquee four-nation tournament, TOI has learnt that CA is still "unconvinced" about the idea but BCCI and ECB are. "That’s possibly because CA attended the ICC meetings in October when the idea of one ICC tournament every year was discussed. ECB did not. BCCI representation did not matter because a new body was being elected after the exit of Committee of Administrators (COA)," say those in the know.CSA will be represented by its CEO Jacques Faul and cricket director Graeme Smith who recently came on board after an administrative re-haul. Unconfirmed reports said New Zealand Cricket (NZC) could also make its presence felt."A lot of unanswered questions here. Almost every former and present cricketer of repute has rubbished the idea of a four-day Test. A few administrators alone can’t speak for a game played by hundreds and watched by millions. Second, if the four-nation marquee tournament being discussed actually sees the light of the day, won’t it eat into these very boards’ future bilateral commitments? Wonder if they’ve given it a good thought," say sources tracking developments.The ICC itself has been pushing the idea of having one tournament of its own every year and in line that that thought, the idea of a marquee six-nation white-ball tournament was proposed. "Essentially, it’s a clash of ideas, potentially arising out a clash of egos. However, what either party needs — if they have to get going — is catching the broadcaster’s interest. That seems to be there," sources add.As Australia’s short tour of India gets underway next week, off the field BCCI and CA will sit down to discuss if the Indian team would be willing to play a day & night Test in Australia when they tour there later this year.India will play four Tests in Australia and the series is expected to begin early December (on the lines of 2017-18 Ashes) with the third Test scheduled to begin on Boxing Day. "If the first Test is in Brisbane, the second one (in Adelaide) could be played under lights," say sources.It will be difficult for the BCCI to say "no" to CA considering they’ve already hosted a pink-ball Test at home. If BCCI says yes, CA — in a return gesture — may agree to some of India’s demands such as an expanded IPL window or perhaps the idea of a four-nation white ball tournament. "Let’s see," says an official.