Pakistan and West Indies set to play historic day-night Test in October
In what should be an enthralling prospect, Pakistan and West Indies will take each other on under floodlights in the first Test of their upcoming series during October. PCB announced the complete schedule for the tour involving 3 Tests, ODIs and T20Is each with Dubai set to play host to the pink-ball contest.
This would be only the second day-night Test ever after Australia and New Zealand kick started the innovation in Adelaide last year. West Indies have a three-day practice match against PCB Patrons XI in Sharjah which will also be played under lights.
The Windies begin their tour with a warm-up T20 against ECB XI at the ICC Academy before the first two T20Is in Dubai. Following the third T20I in Abu Dhabi, the initial couple of ODIs will be played in Sharjah.
Interestingly, there is a two-day practice match against ECB XI at the ICC Academy before the ODI series comes to a close in Abu Dhabi. The 3-match Test series will start with the pink-ball game in Dubai after which the traditional time duration returns in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Also read: India vs West Indies T20Is in USA: India Predicted XI
A press release from PCB stated, “The West Indies – Pakistan Series features the start of an exciting new partnership between the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board with a number of new initiatives being undertaken by the ADSC in promoting the game in Abu Dhabi. The new partnership will seek to promote Pakistan’s long-standing relationship with the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club which has been hosting PCB matches since 2006.”
Currently ranked number one in Tests, Pakistan face only a two-week window before embarking on tough tours to New Zealand and Australia. Meanwhile, in the 50-overs format, they are languishing at ninth and would want to utilize the series to gain valuable ranking points as they target direct qualification for the 2019 World Cup.
Full Schedule – Pakistan versus West Indies, 2016
| Date | Format | Venue |
| September 20 | West Indies vs ECB XI, T20 | ICC Academy |
| September 23 | Pakistan vs West Indies, 1st T20I | Dubai |
| September 24 | Pakistan vs West Indies, 2nd T20I | Dubai |
| September 27 | Pakistan vs West Indies, 3rd T20I | Abu Dhabi |
| September 30 | Pakistan vs West Indies, 1st ODI (D/N) | Sharjah |
| October 2 | Pakistan vs West Indies, 2nd ODI (D/N) | Sharjah |
| October 3-4 | West Indies vs ECB XI, 2-Day | ICC Academy |
| October 5 | Pakistan vs West Indies, 3rd ODI (D/N) | Abu Dhabi |
| October 7-9 | West Indies vs PCB Patrons XI, 3-Day (D/N) | Sharjah |
| October 13-17 | Pakistan vs West Indies, 1st Test (D/N) | Dubai |
| October 21-25 | Pakistan vs West Indies, 2nd Test | Abu Dhabi |
| October 30 – November 3 | Pakistan vs West Indies, 3rd Test | Sharjah |