Mixed reactions from former Pakistan cricketers have been seen over Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to arrange a day and night first-class match for the first time in its history.
PCB announced in the first week of January that the final of its ongoing Quaid-e-Azam trophy Division One starting from 13 January 2011 will be played under lights at National Stadium Karachi.
It would be an experimental first-class match played under floodlights and depending on the feedback, the Board will further decide about day and night first-class matches. But a former Test batsman, Shoaib Mohammad has questioned the PCB over their experiment considering the timing and stature of the fixture chosen for the trial purpose. Shoaib lashed the board for implementing the idea in the final match.
“This is a joke,” said Shoaib while talking to a leading Pakistan newspaper on Friday. “You cannot experiment with such a match. If the board would have implemented on this idea from the beginning then I would have appreciated and backed it,” he added.
Habib Bank Limited have already qualified for the final while Pakistan International Airlines and Rawalpindi are competing each other to be the second finalist. PIA seems to all set to make it to the final.
Shoaib, who is currently the sports head of PIA, continued his scathing remarks about the idea. He said the performance of 22 players would be at stake and attracting crowd at their expense is ridiculous.
In contrast, an HBL top official feels that it would be a positive change and start of a new era in Pakistan cricket.
“It’s good that the board is trying to change things and we should welcome the move,” said the HBL official. “Though, there are question marks that the change has been made in the final, but it may prove to be a breakthrough in the current format of the game.”
In the meantime, wicketkeeper batsman of PIA, Sarfraz Ahmed has also given his backing to the idea. The 23-year-old was excited to be a part of history by playing the first-ever day and night first-class match.
In the meantime, wicketkeeper batsman of PIA, Sarfraz Ahmed has also given his backing to the idea. The 23-year-old was excited to be a part of history by playing the first-ever day and night first-class match.
“Personally, I am looking forward to be a part of history,” said Sarfraz who captained Pakistan to victory at the Under-19 World Cup in 2006. “I’m sure playing in the five-day final in that sort of atmosphere would be amazing.”
The colour of the ball has not yet been decided by the PCB. The Board has to pick a pink or yellow colour ball keeping in view the visibility factor.
