Miandad, Yousuf back day-night Test experiment as long as it doesn't kill 'spirit of Tests'

Karachi: Former Pakistan captains Javed Miandad and Muhammad Yousuf have supported the concept of day and night Test matches with the experiment due to be launched in the third match between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide on Friday. The duo also urged the Pakistan cricket authorities to take seriously the proposal made by Cricket Australia to play a day and night Test in 2016 Down Under. “This test in Adelaide will be very important. Cricket and especially five-day Tests have always been very conservative and traditional. It will be interesting to see how the pink ball behaves in the match,” Yousuf told PTI. [caption id=“attachment_1391389” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Javed Miandad. Reuters[/caption] Yousuf said change was always important but also not easy in any sport specially when it was cricket. “But if it is about keeping Test cricket alive and kicking, I will support any new concept as long as it does not kill the basic spirit of Test matches which remain the ultimate challenge for any cricketer,” Yousuf added. Miandad also backed the idea and insisted as long as it benefitted cricket he had no issues. “There is no doubt Test match cricket is struggling to compete with the popularity of T20 cricket and to a lesser extent 50-over matches. But it is what makes cricket such a beautiful and competitive sport,” Miandad said. He agreed that the launch of day and night tests could see crowds returning to the stadiums for the longer version of the game and also making it more challenging. “I remember when Kerry Packer launched the first day and night cricket matches in Australia everyone snickered at him and questioned the viability and future of such cricket. But eventually day and night ODIs caught the imagination of the public and brought them thronging to the grounds. “If this experiment with Tests proves successful in the long run with the players comfortable negotiating and using the pink ball than it will be a big boost for Test cricket,” Miandad said. He also advised the ICC and its member cricket boards to only decide about the future of day and night tests based on feedback from the players. “I don’t think it would be fair to come to a conclusion based on just one or two day and night tests. It must be given time. Players be must given time, Audiences must be given time to settle down to this new concept. It will not be easy playing with the pink ball but it must be tested,” he said. He said the PCB should also support this idea and accept the Australian invitation to play a day and night test when the Pakistan tours down under next year in winter. PTI