Lights go out on plans for Indian day-night test

New Zealand Cricket have confirmed a day-night test on the Black Caps upcoming trip to India is ‘‘unlikely’’ after the BCCI officially announced the tour schedule.

Details of the tour, which includes three tests and five one-day internationals from September 22 to October 29, were confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday, with all three tests listed as day matches.

The announcement appears to end the possibility of the tour involving the sub-continent’s first pink ball test, which was first brought to light in late April by Thakur.

Details concerning the match had been swirling since then, with Indian media reporting Kolkata’s Eden Gardens had been confirmed to host it in the third test, before another story suggested NZC were not comfortable with it going ahead in Indian conditions. BCCI president Anurag

NZC immediately denied the latter report and remained supportive of the concept throughout, but acknowledged on Wednesday it was now all-but off table."Due to the time constraints in terms of India being able to properly test the pink ball in their own conditions, it is unlikely there will be a day-night test,’’ a NZC spokesperson said.

‘‘There have been discussions [with the BCCI], but it was never really stated emphatically. Certainly it has been listed as a day game.’’

Earlier this month, Thakur told the Indian Express they would not be making a decision on hosting a day-night test until after they had trialled the pink ball at domestic level in September.