141 overs lost: Babar suggests 'pink' solution for Pakistan's winter Test problem

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has called for the use of the pink ball in day Test matches at home to be seriously considered after rain and poor light disrupted the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, which ended in a draw with nearly 141 overs lost.

Hesson and Pakistan captain Babar Azam are open to the idea of using the pink ball in future home Test series, particularly during the winter months when weather conditions make it difficult to complete scheduled playing hours.

The opening Test was repeatedly interrupted by bad light, forcing players to leave the field before the scheduled close of play on most days. The fourth day was called off during the afternoon session because of rain. Even before the rain arrived on the fourth day, umpires had to suspend play because the light had deteriorated to a level where continuing with the red ball under lights could have put players at risk of injury.

The match was already heading towards a draw when play resumed on the fifth day. Pakistan were leading by just 45 runs with one wicket down as they looked to build a target for Sri Lanka. Pakistan ended up batting through the day before play was called off at 4:18 pm, almost two hours before the scheduled close at 6:10 pm. The decision came after Saud Shakeel was dismissed in the 90s for the second time in the match. The first three days had also seen significant interruptions, with only 14.2, 15.1 and 12 overs bowled in the evening sessions respectively.

The International Cricket Council (ICC), following its last quarterly meeting, has approved the use of pink balls in day Tests as an option to address the problem of overs being lost due to bad light. Hesson believes Pakistan should consider the option for future home series. "It is certainly something that needs to be talked about for the future series," Hesson told the host broadcaster after the match. "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."

Babar, however, pointed out that the short gap between the two Tests would not have given Pakistan enough time to prepare for a pink-ball match. With only three days between the two games, he said players needed more time to get used to the different conditions and behaviour of the pink ball. "You will need to prepare for it as we usually play with the red ball," he said in the post-match presentation. "A couple of days are not enough to prepare to play a Test with the pink ball. It is a good that we have it as an option, but the preparation for a pink ball Test demands more time."