Pakistan Cricket Board takes a massive step and changes their cricket forever ahead of Bangladesh Tests

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed its decision to use Kookaburra cricket balls for the seven upcoming home Test matches in the ICC World Test Championship. These crucial encounters will include two Tests against Bangladesh, three against England, and two against the West Indies.

Under the rules of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), the home cricket board has the authority to select the brand of cricket balls used during matches and the PCB made the most of this rule to improve Pakistan's performance.

PCB opts for Kookaburra balls for home WTC Tests and Dukes for domestic cricket

The PCB’s decision to select the Kookaburra balls for the home Test matches was to make up with the international standards, as this brand is widely used in the traditional format of the game around the world.

The domestic cricket season in Pakistan is set to kick off next month, and the board has taken a significant call to improve the standard with a different approach. For all senior red-ball domestic matches, the PCB has opted to use Duke's balls.

This decision is tailored to suit the specific conditions of Pakistan's pitches, with Duke balls being customized accordingly. At the grassroots level, the PCB has decided to use Aceline and Grays balls across various youth and development tournaments, including Under-13, Under-17, and Under-19 competitions, as well as in schools, universities, clubs, and inter-district events.

The board has taken this strategic decision after a comprehensive assessment of domestic cricket grounds and pitch conditions, ensuring that young cricketers develop their skills using balls that suit the local pitches. For the 50-over and T20 format, the PCB will continue using Kookaburra balls, maintaining consistency with international standards.

The Kookaburra balls are preferred for all white-ball cricket globally, including ICC events, and that’s why the PCB decided to stick with this brand. The PCB is confident that the pitches for the 2024-25 season will be precisely prepared to accommodate the use of various cricket balls in Pakistan.

PCB's new chief curator Tony Hemming to elevate pitch standards across Pakistan

With the recent appointment of Tony Hemming as Chief Curator, the Pakistani board is aiming for an enhanced quality of play, ensuring a balanced contest between bat and ball in the upcoming domestic season. Hemming will work closely with relevant departments to design pitches that meet the demands of different formats and conditions.

In addition to overseeing pitch preparation, Hemming will play a key role in training and mentoring local curators, ensuring that pitch standards are consistently high across all regions and districts in Pakistan. The PCB believes that these measures will contribute to a more competitive and entertaining cricket season, both at the domestic and international levels.

The Pakistan cricket team is currently gearing up for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh Cricket Team at home. This series will get underway on August 21 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which is likely to host the second and final Test from August 30 as well, as well as the renovation work being underway in Karachi’s National Cricket Stadium.