BCCI President Sourav Ganguly on Tuesday confirmed that the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel stadium aka Motera Stadium will host its first day-night pink-ball Test during England’s tour of India.

The English team is scheduled to play five Test matches, three One Day International matches and three Twenty20 international matches in India during the January-March period.

“Ahmedabad will hold the day-night Test,” Ganguly said at the Kolkata Press Club while launching a book by CPI(M) MLA Ashok Bhattacharya.

Joe Root and company will be the first ones to get involved in a bilateral tour as a the BCCI is already exploring all possible options, including creating bio-secure bubbles.

Ahmedabad, Dharamsala and Kolkata are likely to be the three venues for the Test series, but Ganguly said they are yet to take a final call.

“We have made some tentative plans but nothing has been decided as of now. We still have four months’ time,” said Ganguly.

Addressing India’s upcoming tour of Australia, the BCCI president said that the team selection will happen in a few days. India had won the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2-1, the last time they played Tim Paine’s Australia in the Kangaroo Island.

“Before England, we have Australia series coming up. There will be team selection happening in a few days.They are all quality players, they will be fine.” Ganguly said switching to the Test format immediately after the IPL won’t be a problem for the players.

A surge in the COVID-19 case load throughout the country, forced the Indian Cricket Board to shift the IPL overseas. The England series could also see a similar proceeding in UAE if conditions don’t improve, according to reports.

Talking about the Ranji Trophy starting from January 1, Ganguly said the details will be worked out in the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM).

“The AGM will happen soon and there we will decide about the Ranji Trophy.” Ganguly unveiled a Bengali book on COVID-19 pandemic ‘Corona, Purba O Uttar, Nagarayan O Arthaniti’ — authored by Bhattacharya.

A COVID-19 survivor, the 71-year-old Bhattacharya has recounted his experience of overcoming the deadly virus, in the book.

Bhattacharya is also the chairman of Board of Administrators of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation