Pakistan approached for day-night Test

The Pakistan Cricket Board says it is taking a positive approach to an invitation to play a day-night Test in Australia next summer.

Pakistan is due to tour Australia for a three-Test series during the 2016-17 summer, while the first ever day-night Test match will be held in Adelaide against New Zealand later this month. 

"We have received a proposal from Cricket Australia to play a day-night Test in the 2016-2017 series," Pakistan Cricket Board’s chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed told cricket.com.au.

"The matter has been referred to our cricket committee for consideration. 

"In principle, the PCB is supportive of and inclined towards accepting and trying out innovative ideas and new technologies. And this includes the proposal of playing Test matches under lights."

Cricket Australia did not confirm an offer to play a day-night Test had been made, with a spokesperson saying: "We’re in the very early stages of working through our 2016-17 home schedule. At this point, we aren’t in a position to comment on specific details."

The International Cricket Council amended the playing conditions for Test cricket in 2012 to allow participating countries to decide whether they wished to play a day-night Test.

The two boards determine the hours of play and the colour of the ball.

The PCB has been in favour of day-night Test cricket in the past, proposing a Test under lights in Dubai when they hosted Sri Lanka in 2013-14.

However, Sri Lanka Cricket declined the offer as their players did not have match practice with the pink ball.

On Thursday, Pakistan completed a 2-0 series victory over England in the United Arab Emirates where the 15 days of cricket was largely played in front the empty stands.

Image Id: ~/media/6FAFBA0811614286BF5EF21F1ECCD75B

The Pakistan-England series was played in front of empty stands // Getty

PCB has been advised to look at hosting day-night Tests in the UAE, to enable fans to attend the match after work hours.

"We believe that in certain climates and seasons, Test cricket can and should be played under lights to enhance and revive waning spectator interest in this format of the game," Ahmed said

PCB is currently considering holding the final of the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the country’s premier first-class tournament, as a day-night fixture in Karachi.

"The idea of staging Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final (as a day-night fixture) is under serious and active consideration and we will be discussing it in our next meeting of the Cricket Committee."

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final has been played twice under the artificial lights at National Stadium Karachi, using an orange ball in 2010-11 season and a pink ball in 2011-12.

The PCB also held a T20 tournament in Karachi in 2006 using orange balls.

However, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq says his past experiences have led him to conclude that day-night cricket can only work using a white ball.

In his exclusive column for cricket.com.au to be published later today, Misbah says using a white ball in Tests would also lead to the matches being played in coloured clothing.

"We played a domestic tournament in Karachi with the orange ball and it was a horrible experience for the fielders," he said.

"Some catches even fell on the heads of the fielders as they just couldn’t see it. Maybe as a batsman you don’t find it that difficult due to the sight screens, but for fielders it was really hard to spot the ball with a black sky behind. In the twilight it gets difficult for batsmen as well. 

"Either you manufacture the ball which lasts 80 overs or use two balls, I can see it happening only with the white ball.

"But then lot of things will need to be changed. With white ball the kits cannot be of the same colour so we will have to change the colour of kits as well."

According to the PCB, the colour of the ball for the QEA Trophy final will also be discussed at their next meeting.

"This is another initiative that our cricket committee will discuss in its next meeting," Ahmed said.

"PCB’s cricket committee is the right forum to debate and decide on it. And the committee is looking at all the angles of this proposal in detail. 

"In our first class cricket, our players have in the past been put through the experience of playing with the pink ball. So, our cricket committee has all the necessary feedback on it."

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