KARACHI – Day-night test matches moved a step closer to acceptance after cricket’s governing body endorsed a trial first class match in Pakistan held under lights with a coloured ball.
“I don’t see any problems with the behaviour of the ball or playing under lights. This match would help us in our proposal to see test cricket under lights,” International Cricket Council general manager of cricket affairs Dave Richardson told Geo news channel. Richardson watched some of the five-day Quaid-e-Azam trophy final at the National stadium between the country’s two top teams.
The match was played under floodlights in a bid to attract crowds and raise the profile of Pakistan’s domestic cricket.
A pink ball has been used in trials in England, Australia and West Indies which would enable players to wear white clothing under floodlit conditions with white sightscreens. The traditional red ball is difficult to see properly under lights. White balls are used successfully in day-night one-day matches but the players wear coloured clothing and black sightscreens are employed.
“The good thing is that this final has shown that it is possible to play first class and test matches in a day-night format with orange color balls,” former captain and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director-general of cricket Javed Miandad told reporters at the national stadium.
