Pakistan keen on playing day-night Test against West Indies

The Pakistan team is keen on playing a day-night Test against the West Indies in the UAE before playing their maiden away day-night Test against Australia in Brisbane.

Pakistan skipper confirmed the same has been discussed in the meetings with the board. Pakistan is keen on playing day-night Tests in order to prepare for their tour down-under. The West Indies team is scheduled to play 6 ODIs and 2 Tests against Pakistan in UAE in the month of October. The PCB had earlier sent an invitation to Sri Lanka Cricket board to play a day-night pink ball Test in Dubai way back in 2013, an offer that was declined by the Sri Lanka cricket board.

“If you don’t have match practice it will become difficult to play at Test level,” Misbah, who is an advisor to the PCB’s cricket committee, told cricket.com.au.

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“It was one of the things discussed in the cricket committee’s previous meeting,” he added. On explaining why playing with the pink ball under lights is important, Misbah quoted, “The bowlers are at advantage in the evening session and it becomes very difficult for batsmen under lights. That is one reason the cricketers from other countries are also reluctant to play Tests under lights.”

“One more reason is the lack of match practice with the pink ball. The players have hardly played any cricket under these conditions at the domestic levels. They need more match practice before playing it at international level,” he added further.

Misbah further spoke about the need for day-night Tests as it would revive the oldest format. “Although we as players have some concerns about playing under lights, especially the batsmen who have found it difficult to bat in the evening session with the pink ball, I think day-night Test cricket is (needed). There will be excitement among players but at the same time there will be some concerns too because Test cricket is already quite difficult and it will become even more difficult for the batsmen.”

If the offer is turned down by the West Indies Cricket Board, Misbah said the domestic tournament will see the use of pink balls in day-night games. Misbah confirmed the Pakistan players would be exposed to the pink ball in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the country’s premier first-class tournament, with every team likely to play at least one day-night first-class match later this year.

Also read – Day-Night Test beckons for Indians at home: BCCI