IT was almost forty years ago, in 1977, that the Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer having reacted to not being given TV rights by the Australian Cricket board (ACB) secretly started to sign world’s star cricketers to have his own World Series Cricket (WSC) and teach the Australian establishment a lesson.

And sued the ICC, MCC to get bans on the players lifted which was slapped on them by their own cricket establishments. Packer won the case as his lawyer Lord Alexander argued on point of ‘restraint of trade act’ which that no one can deprive anyone of earning his living.

And not much later Packer started his own cricket circus having offered exorbitant amount of money to great cricketers of the day to play limited-over games in coloured clothing, and also introducing with it floodlit cricket, white ball, black screen and drop-in pitches.

These innovations in the game — far away from traditional cricket — angered the purists and criticism abounded to malign the man. He continued his mission with a passion with which he started till the authorities bowed down and offered him the rights to televise international cricket for his Channel 9.

Packer then disbanded his cricket circus but left a legacy which now hails him as the game’s benefactor. Players who were paid pittance now started to get big sums, their quality of life was elevated as well as their status.

The new brand of game which he introduced caught up like wildfire among the followers and cricket becoming a different ball game altogether. The finances generated from instant cricket now sustains the Tests and the sport has a lot more passionate following.

Now that day-and-night Test cricket has started — though still in its infancy — may in future also get the same billing.

The Test between Pakistan and West Indies here in Dubai being played under floodlights for the first time in Asia. Coincidentally, the game, Pakistan’s 400th Test, is no doubt a landmark event and a beginning which may have in future a far-reaching result on Tests which have since 1877 been played in traditional white clothing and with red ball.

Already before this a Test of similar nature was played last year in Adelaide between Australia and New Zealand which ended in three days but not before it attracted a record 123,000 fans.

The ongoing Test here in Dubai, the second in history, will not be able to match the Adelaide game in numbers that would turn up but it certainly is a format worth trying.

Pink ball Test is much talked about and the players still have no clue as to how ball will behave or whether it would be easy to sight in floodlit evening or its black seam would pose problems for the batsmen.

Both West Indies captain Jason Holder and his Pakistan counterpart Misbah-ul-Haq are happy to be part of this historic event.

On present form, the West Indies are no doubt vulnerable having been blanked 3-0 in both the T20 and ODI series earlier on this tour.

But with new additions the West Indies may improve in the Tests against a Pakistan side which recently have not only enhanced its image internationally but also have a bunch of players keen to steal the limelight while representing their country.

Batsman Babar Azam and spinning all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz have been given Test caps — a just reward the duo earned for their recent rich form in limited-overs games.

I find both very talented and keen to shine under the wings of a sane and solid individual like Misbah.

For what I saw in the first three hours of this first, I was impressed with the way Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam faced the pink ball sharing a partnership of over a hundred.

Which assuredly bodes well for Pakistan in this unique Test.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2016