Domestic circuit: PCB approves 10 day-night matches for upcoming season

Board wants players to get accustomed to pink ball ahead of December Test against Australia.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in its efforts to ensure that the players get accustomed to the pink-ball ahead of their day-night Test against Australia at the end of this year, has announced that it will organise 10 day-night matches, to be played with the pink ball, in the forthcoming domestic first-class season starting from September.

One of the members of the Board of Governors and part of the Domestic Affairs Committee, Gul Zada, told The Express Tribune that the decision was taken following the successful semi-final and final day-night matches of last year’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

“The feedback we received from the players and the coaches of the teams who played the day-night matches was extremely positive, which got us thinking about adding more matches in our calendar and get more teams accustomed to the new conditions,” revealed Gul Zada. “This will also help the players prepare for the Australian tour.”

Gul Zada also revealed that the Board of Governors had been pondering introducing day-night matches for a long time but were unable to reach a consensus. However, after the domestic affairs committee filed a formal request to introduce day-night cricket in the domestic structure last year, the board members gave their approval.

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will feature 16 teams, 12
of those will gain automatic qualification on the
basis of their performance last season.

The remaining four spots will be filled through a qualifying round which will be played between 14 teams.

The top two regional and departmental teams will qualify for the main tournament.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2016.

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