Factors the PCB should bear in mind

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Final was at National Stadium, Karachi. Considering the result, I think PCB should have held it at Gaddafi stadium at night. The reason for that is twofold: both the ball used, and the dew factor.

The PCB tested the pink ball in the final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s premier first-class tournament, played in Karachi. In the recent experiments with the pink ball in Pakistan domestic cricket, the players complained about the visibility of the ball under floodlights. The major concern, they said, was the quality of the ball once it got older (which seems to happen quicker than with other balls), as it didn’t hold up well for both batting and fielding.

When ODI matches are held in Pakistan the day-night ODI match starts at 11 am and will end at about 7 pm because dew starts to set after sunset (around the time of the Maghrib prayer). As a result, the ODI matches are affected because of dew factor and matches can’t be played at night.

The pink ball has had some issues with how it responds to 80 overs of Test cricket and that is one of the key issues that the players feel plays a big role in the success of the day-night Tests. In the cases it was used in, the pitch in question also had to be ‘doctored’ to minimise the abrasive wear and tear to the pink ball, which seems to happen quicker than the red ball. Here, again, there is an area that players feel is a big factor in the run of play. Most of the players who have also raised concerns regarding the durability of the pink ball used for the Test claim that it needs to be more refined before these balls are applied on a full-fledged basis. As far as the Kookaburra ball is concerned, it may not last on typical sub continent pitches. The new pink ball was also seaming a lot, and the moisture on the pitch due to the existing dew factor made it tough for the batsmen. Even lining up for high catches became a challenge for fielders because the balls have an unfortunately low visibility. It is thus suggested that instead of the pink ball, the orange ball should be used in day-night matches because orange suits more for day-night matches.

In recent T20 world cup the teams that won the toss preferred to bowl first because of dew factor. In many matches, the team bowling second lost the match because of the dew factor. Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni also blamed dew factor for loss of semi final against West Indies – he did not use Ravichandran Ashwin because of the dew. He said the ball was gripping the pitch during India’s innings, but the dew made it skid through when West Indies batted, making it easy for them to hit the spinners.

There is something else that needs to be borne in mind. In Australia and New Zealand conditions -for day night test are perfect, but in comparison, existing Asian weather conditions considered, it is not a good idea to hold such matches here. One reason is that because of the dew factor ball gets wet and it is difficult for the bowler to get the wicket. Here, no one seems to consider that, in an ODI or T20, if dew is on the ground batting may be a lot easier but bowlers could not grip the ball. As a result, ultimately, the charm of Test cricket is lost.

Many people have said that crowds are not coming to watch test matches but the fact is that today millions of viewer are watching test matches at their home. So if for a few thousand spectators in the stadium, a day-night match is held, both teams will face suffering players because of the dew factor.

And finally, it is my opinion that the PCB needs to set up more facilities in the U.A.E. Charge as low as Dh 10, Dh 20 or Dh 30, while giving free tickets to school children to draw crowds because it is a fact that in the recent ODI series, the crowd was less than hoped for.