WICB to consider Pakistan day-night Test proposal

Bridgetown (Barbados), April 29 (Cricketnmore): The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) are mulling over a proposal from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to play a Test under lights during the Caribbean side’s tour this year.

The West Indies are set to play two Tests, five One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20s against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates starting in October. The PCB has proposed that one of the Tests be played as a day-night affair, a news agency reported.

The proposal will be under consideration when the WICB executive committee meets here this weekend.

This has been driven in part by the International Cricket Council’s recent call for member bodies to "embrace the innovation" of the day-night concept.

The PCB are hoping the West Indies agree to the proposal as it would add a new dimension to the series which is expected to be otherwise played in front of empty stands.

In addition, the game would allow Pakistan important match practice with the pink ball as they gear up for their ‘pink-ball’ Test against Australia in Brisbane in December.

The PCB is keen on reviving their cricket which has suffered from their inability to host matches because of the security situation in Pakistan.

Their offer to host their first game in seven years on Pakistani soil was rejected by the WICB this month.

Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who is also an advisor to the PCB’s cricket committee, said it was important that Pakistan played a Test under lights before taking on Australia.

He said even if the West Indies night Test did not materialise, there were plans to play day-night fixtures in the Pakistan first class championship in order to help players familiarise with the new concept.

Agency.