LAHORE: Misbah-ul-Haq, the 42-year-old Pakis­tan skipper, has given thumbs up to day-night Test cricket and added that “future belongs to night Tests”.

Pakistan are slated to play their maiden day-night Test against West Indies from October 13-17.

The Asian country is also scheduled to partake in a pink-ball Test against Australia later this year.

“Future belongs to night Tests and this should be played frequently,” Misbah stated on Monday.

“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.

“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.”

In the recent past, cricketers have voiced their concerns about playing with the pink ball.

It has been tested in various Sheffield Shield and Duleep Trophy matches.

The final of Pakistan’s premier four-day competition was also played with the pink ball during the 2011-12 season.

Misbah said that issues with the pink ball can be ironed out only by playing more day-night cricket.

“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,” the right-handed batsman added.

Misbah also noted that Pakistan will try to adjust to the different playing conditions by practicing under lights before the first Test.

“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,” the Pakistan captain said.

Published in Dawn September 28th, 2016

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