India women should play domestic pink-ball tournament before Perth day-night Test: Shantha Rangaswamy

Former India captain Shantha Rangaswamy said it's important that the women's team stars get adequate pink-ball practice before they play their first-ever day-night Test, against Australia in Perth from September 30.

Former India captain and BCCI Apex Council member Shantha Rangaswamy on Thursday urged the cricket board to organise pink-ball domestic tournament before India women head to Australia to play the historic day-night Test in Perth, starting September 30. Shantha Rangaswamy welcomed the resumption of Test cricket for women, saying the longest format is the pinnacle of the game. India are scheduled to play a Test, for the first time in 7 years, in England in June. Considering red-ball events have not been held in domestic cricket since 2018, it will be a tough challenge for the Mithali Raj-led squad. "BCCI has been planning on certain tournaments for women cricketers in the last year. But time and again plans have gone haywire because of the pandemic. It is heartening to note that the board has planned a Test during the Indian women's tour of England," Shantha Rangaswamy told PTI.