Kanpur stadium to host first India-New Zealand Test

The Green Park stadium in Kanpur will host the first Test match between India and New Zealand, an official said on Tuesday. New Zealand’s three-Test series in India will begin on September 22, followed by the second Test from September 30 in Indore, a brand new Test venue. The final Test will begin on October 8, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

India will play 13 home Tests in the 2016-17 season. Do you know when they last played these many in a season? https://t.co/ssRP9QNIJn

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Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner and secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) Rajeev Shukla recently visited the Green Park stadium to review the preparations for the match, also informed that a T20 format match between England and India will also be played in Kanpur in February 2017.

The dates, however, are yet to be decided. With T20s, one-day and IPL matches becoming more popular formats with cricket fans, the UPCA is making special arrangements to attract spectators.

Officials informed IANS that 10 per cent tickets were being reserved for school children and free entry for the differently abled. A modern pavilion is under construction at the stadium and is likely to be completed soon.

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There are discussions about India hosting their first-ever day-night Test when New Zealand tours India later in the year. Anurag Thakur, the president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has said that the BCCI would use the pink Kookaburra ball for the Test match.

“We have decided that we will play one day-night Test match with pink ball against New Zealand later this year. Before that, Duleep Trophy will act as a dress rehearsal for the day-night Test match,” Thakur added.