Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has announced its decision to refund the money for the tickets bought by fans for day 4 and 5 of the first-ever day-night Test match in India. The pink-ball Test at the Eden Gardens produced a result inside three days with a rampant India crushing Bangladesh by an innings and 46 runs to clean-sweep the Test series. But with the game finishing in three days, fans that bought tickets for day 4 and 5 would have faced huge loss – Eden Gardens reported a sold out for all five days. The decision by the Bengal cricket board to refund the tickets for the two extra days will, therefore, bring a big relief among those fans. IND Beat BAN By An Innings And 46 Runs.

Refunding tickets for a cricket match is, however, a rarity in Indian cricket circuit. Usually, state cricket associations only refund tickets when a match has been called off or was abandoned due to torrential rainfall or inclement weather. But the instance of a cricket body refunding tickets because the match got over early is certainly a first in world cricket. India vs Bangladesh Day-Night Test 2019 Felt Like World Cup Final, Says Sourav Ganguly.

Cricket Association of Bengal to Refund Tickets (Photo Credits: Facebook/@CABCricket)

Fans from across the country and from Bangladesh had flocked in large numbers at the Eden Gardens hoping to be a part of history. But the visitors failed to put up a competition falling prey to the brutality of Indian pacers, who picked up 19 of the 20 wickets as Bangladesh fell twice inside three days to hand India their 13 successive series victory at home. This was also the shortest Test ever (in terms of balls bowled) to be played in India, beating Afghanistan’s Test debut against India, which lasted for 1028 balls.

Afghanistan’s maiden Test appearance lasts for just two days and the same could have happened at the Eden Gardens, where the game went5 into Day 3 only because of frequent stoppages as a result of players being hit on the head. The first-ever day-night Test in India between the hosts and Bangladesh lasted 161.2 overs, which is at least 10 overs less than the Afghanistan vs India Test at Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, at least 50,000 attended the first three days of India’s first-ever pink-ball Test match. It was a full house at the Eden Gardens for all three days but with the match finishing just 47 minutes into the 3rd day of the IND vs BAN Test, fans were denied the further joy of experiencing the pink ball spectacle.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 25, 2019 04:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).