PCB keen to accept day-night Test offer by Cricket Australia

Published November 12, 2015
PCB's cricket committee will compose a in depth report on playing with the pink ball next summer Down-Under. — Reuters/File
PCB's cricket committee will compose a in depth report on playing with the pink ball next summer Down-Under. — Reuters/File

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is looking forward to accept Cricket Australia's invitation to play a day-night Test, when the two teams face-off in December 2016, but wants to take the players into assurance before reaching a conclusive decision, said a report on Cricinfo.

PCB's cricket committee will draft an in depth report on playing with the pink ball next summer, and has talked about the likelihood of using the ball for the final of the Quaid-e-Azam trophy — Pakistan’s premier first-class tournament.

“We have been advised by the PCB chairman to take up the offer by Cricket Australia,” Shakeel Sheikh, the PCB cricket committee's chairman told ESPN's Cricinfo.

“There has been detailed research on using the pink ball and we have sought a copy to discuss every point about it,” stated Sheikh.

“Some players including Misbah-ul-Haq have raised their concerns and we would want to take them on board to record their points as well,” added Sheikh.

In a proposal to allow their Pakistani counterparts understand the concept, CA sent out an invitation to a top PCB official for the day-night Test in Adelaide between Australia and New Zealand starting November 27. But that wasn't accepted as the official is occupied with an Asian Cricket Council meeting during the same time period.

There is, however, a suggestion to send Zakir Khan, also a member of the cricket committee, who will be in Australia as manager of Pakistan's Under-16 team.

In the coming weeks, the PCB is likely to purchase an improved version of the pink ball in bulk and distribute it among domestic sides for practice sessions, after which feedback will be gathered.

“The ball we came to know has improved and is ready for top cricket as it been a while we had experimented with the orange and pink,” Sheikh said.

“We are also thinking to send someone as an observer to witness the first game between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide. But at the same time we are keen and enthusiastic about the idea and the committee will debate about playing the Quaid-e-Azam trophy's final with the new pink balls.”

This is not the first time the PCB is pondering over the option of day-night Tests.

Pakistan was the first country to take the initiative to play Test cricket under floodlights against Sri Lanka in UAE two years ago, but the proposal was turned down by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), citing their players 'lack of practice' with the pink ball.

As part of their testing, the PCB also experimented with the orange ball during the 2010-11 season final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, while the 2011-12 season final was played with the pink ball.

Although the response was encouraging, the main concern was the confusion between the colour of the seam and that of the sight screen.

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