![Babar Azam on pink ball use [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1794577802215_BabarAzamPresser.jpg?type=hq)
Babar Azam on pink ball use [Source: AFP]
Pakistan's first Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi ended in an infuriating draw after only about 310 overs were bowled across five days. Bad light stoppages marked the opening Test, which did not even allow three innings of play.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and coach Mike Hesson weighed in on potential usage of pink ball in such situations to avoid long breaks and go for results moving forward.
Babar Azam open to Pink Ball Tests
The umpires called off the final day of the Rawalpindi Test an hour and 50 minutes ahead of the schedule. This meant close to 141 overs across 5 days were lost, leaving no room for a result.
At the ICC's last quarterly meeting, they approved using the pink ball in such bad-light cases; however, they did not make it mandatory. Babar Azam opened up on the issue, and the team would like to work on it—not necessarily in the next Test, since it is just 3 days away, but starting with the forthcoming home games.
"You will need to prepare for it as we usually play with the red ball. A couple of days are not enough to prepare to play a Test with the pink ball. It is good that we have it as an option, but the preparation for a pink ball Test demands more time," he said in the post-match presser.
Babar Azam has played all four of Pakistan's pink ball Tests, scoring 236 runs at an average of 29.50 with two fifties.
Hesson resonates with Babar
Cricinfo revealed that the two boards had not considered the usage of pink balls in this series; it is unlikely that a last-minute on-field decision is made. It is winter in Pakistan, and the sun sets early; the bad light issue is likely to occur more often, regardless of the venue.
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson believes discussions should take place moving forward, citing the time of year and the fact that a provision is now available.
"It is certainly something that needs to be talked about for the future series. It is going to be a challenge to play Test matches in this time of the year regardless of where in Pakistan. As the ICC have now allowed that to be an option, this is something that seriously needs to be considered before the series," said the head coach.
So far, Pakistan have played four Pink Ball Tests — the last one dating back to November 2019. Two were hosted in Dubai, one in Brisbane and one in Adelaide. They did not do particularly well, winning only their first against the West Indies in 2016. They subsequently lost two to Australia and one to Sri Lanka.
