While the PCB Director Domestic Cricket Sultan Rana said the board is looking into the pros and cons of arranging the final under flood lights, another official confirmed the final will be a day-night affair.
“We are working on a plan but nothing is finalised yet,” Rana told The Express Tribune. “We will make a decision in the next couple of days.”
Meanwhile, another PCB official confirmed and said the board has already given a green signal to a television channel for the live broadcast of the match.
“The plan for the final which would be telecasted live on a television channel has been decided,” said the official.
HBL have qualified for the final and await the result of the match between PIA and Karachi Blues before their opponents are decided. Currently, Rawalpindi and Wapda are joint-second but PIA will go through if they beat Karachi Blues.
Coloured balls to be introduced
The official also said that a yellow or pink-coloured ball would be tested in the final while players will continue to sport the regular white kits.
“It would be a good change and experiment to see whether the match under lights would draw a huge crowd or not. However, the misty factor due to the winter season may hinder our plans.”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been considering initiating day-night Tests in a bid to increase the crowds and make the format more interesting, which has seen a decline following the introduction of the Twenty20s. The idea got the backing of current and former players like Pakistan limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi and former Australia captain Steve Waugh who believed the change will prove beneficial for the game.
However, the concept was held back by problems with the coloured balls not lasting over five days of a Test.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2011.
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