Misbah asks world to embrace day-night Test cricket

Published September 27, 2016
"The more frequently we play under lights, it will give more exposure and allow players to get used to it." — AFP/File
"The more frequently we play under lights, it will give more exposure and allow players to get used to it." — AFP/File

The Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has asked the world to embrace day-night Test cricket "quickly" and called for more such contests.

"Future belongs to day-night Tests and this should be played frequently," Misbah told ESPNCricinfo.

Pakistan are scheduled to feature in two day-night Tests this year; one against the West Indies in the United Arab Emirates next month and the other against Australia in December.

"If future is with day-night Tests, then we have to play it more often and we have to start embracing it quickly. Like we play one-day cricket with white ball, and this pattern had been adapted everywhere in domestic and even in club cricket."

Pakistan were amongst the first few boards to experiment with orange and pink balls in the first-class cricket. International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive praised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for being the front-runners last week in a press conference in Lahore.

The PCB has scheduled as much as 10 day-night contests during the country's premier first-class tournament, the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy.

"It's a good thing that PCB increased the number of [first-class] day-night games in domestic cricket, and each team will be getting two games or so this season."

"Meanwhile, there are problems, whether it's a pink or orange ball, for batsmen and fielders so far. These issues can only sorted by playing more cricket under lights with pink balls.

"Since the game is played for the fans and for the audience, this night cricket is the future and it's definitely good for cricket. The more frequently we play under lights, it will give more exposure and allow players to get used to it."

Regarding Pakistan's first ever day-night Test against the West Indies which begins on October 13, Misbah said: "We will have six to seven days before the first Test, so we have to train maximum under lights with pink ball, and try to understand the conditions.

"We have to adjust to the timing of the sessions, understand how the ball will travel under lights, how much the ball will swing under lights, and how much the dew factor will be affecting it.

"If you see, the major chunk of the Test is in night, so it basically isn't really a day-night Test. So we have to start working from scratch."

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