PCB keen to experiment with day-night Test matches in series against Sri Lanka

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in 2012

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have proposed playing a day-night Test match against Sri Lanka in the upcoming three Test series in UAE.

Two of the matches, which are scheduled at Dubai and Abu Dhabi could be considered as potential venues for trying out the day-night Tests, according to the PCB.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) had approved the idea of having cricket played at night, but had left the onus on the respective cricket boards to make the decision. The hours of play and the colour of the ball would also have to be decided by the boards.

The PCB has been the first board to take the initiative, and they have also conducted domestic day-night first class matches in Pakistan on a trial basis. A few MCC games have also been played at Abu Dhabi under lights.

“We have offered to play a Test match under lights,” Nadeem Sarwar, a spokesmen of the PCB told Cricinfo.

“We are keen to experiment with day-night Test cricket as we believe that this would help in reviving interest in the format. The major aspect in our discussion is the correspondence on the colour and brand of the ball. The venues are definitely ideal and there is no dew factor involved in December and January.”

Sri Lanka have been positive about the prospect of being the first side to be involved in a night Test match, despite not having experimented with the concept in domestic cricket. Jayantha Dharmadasa the President of Sri Lanka cricket has also said that unless there were major objections within the board, there would be no reason to stop the proposal.

“We shouldn’t say no if the only reason is that it doesn’t suit us,” Dharmadasa said. “In the past we’ve had 50-over cricket come into the game, then Twenty20s. In the future it will be day-night Tests. It would be a good thing for us to be part of the first day-night Test. People will be looking at it. I’ve still got to talk to the cricket committee, the selectors, and the cricketers, so we’ll see what comes out of those meetings.” he said.

The series between the two nations is scheduled to happen in the UAE between December 2013 and January 2014 and will comprise three Test matches, five ODIs and two T-20 matches.