KARACHI, Nov 9: Pakistan are seeking International Cricket Council (ICC) permission to stage a shortened one-dayer against New Zealand later this month, fearing the game will otherwise be decided by the toss.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that an 8.30 a.m start at Faisalabad in the first game of the five-match series on Nov 22 would heavily favour the side bowling first because of extravagant early seam movement.

“We have seen recently in the Asian under-19 championship and also in the triangular series in India that an early start of around 8.30 a.m. gives unfair advantage to the team fielding first,” said PCB official Ramiz Raja.

He added that the problem could be avoided with a later start and the game cut from 50 overs a side to 45 or even 40.

Pakistan also want to put forward the start times of the other four matches, all day-nighters, in Rawalpindi (Nov 24 and 25) and Lahore (Nov 29 and Dec 1), this time because of evening dew.

Day-night matches normally begin at 2 p.m. but the board would like to begin three hours earlier.

“The dew becomes very heavy by evening in Punjab at this time of the year and it would ruin the games,” said Raja.

“And also since two matches are in the Ramazan, we need to have an extended drinks break of 10 to 15 minutes in the second innings to allow people to break their fast,” he told Reuters, adding he hoped the ICC and New Zealand would agree to the changes.—Reuters