ICC proposal for day-night test matches gathers strength

KARACHI, (Reuters) – 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.

“But as far as the International Cricket Council is  concerned it is up to them how they approach this new concept  which can be done.

Miandad said that the PCB would send its report to the ICC  after going through the reports of the captains and match  officials.

“The good thing is that on all five days we got no  complaints from anyone about playing in this format being  difficult,” he said.