Shaharyar bats for Test cricket

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan bats in favour of Test cricket and has rejected English and Wales Cricket Board’s proposal to convert five-day game into four-day Test.

Shaharyar said in reports that he will not support any move to change the existing format of Test matches and reduce them to four-day fixtures.

After floating the proposal of four-day Tests, the ECB is convincing the other boards to deliberate upon when the International Cricket Council (ICC) holds its annual meet in London in the last week of June.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan made it clear that if such a proposal was discussed, Pakistan would not support it.

“Our stance is clear that trying to have day and night Test matches is a good initiative as it does not change the traditional format. The beauty of Test cricket lies in five-day matches and if good pitches are prepared no reason why matches should finish early,” he said.

The ECB has made the point that in recent times Test matches were finishing early causing financial losses to home boards therefore  four-day Tests would be more practical.

Shaharyar said that the PCB, however, was in support of having division two Test matches as it would help globalise the sport and make Test cricket more competitive.

“Right now our priority lies in helping the Pakistan team prepare properly for its first day and night Test and in this regard captain Misbah-ul-Haq has also given us some constructive recommendations on how to use the pink ball,” he said.

The PCB has decided to host a day and night Test against the West Indies in the UAE in October and will also play a day and night Test in Australia in December. Shaharyar said Pakistan supported having a proper Test championship.