LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Thursday announced the schedule for the national team’s series against the West Indies in the United Arab Emirates beginning next month, including their first-ever day-night Test. The series, which runs from September 23 to November 3, includes three Twenty20 internationals and as many one-day and Tests, the highlight being the day-night Test in Dubai in October. Australia hosted the first-ever day-night Test at Adelaide against New Zealand in November last year, with high attendance figures as it drew fans who could watch the match after their working hours. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is attempting to revive waning interest in the five-day game with the day-night innovation, and termed the Adelaide Test a ‘big success’. Australia will also host two day-night Tests against South Africa and then Pakistan during their home season, starting in November. Pakistan’s plans to host the day-night Test were made after they agreed to play Australia. The West Indies Test will give them their first taste of playing an international match with the new pink balls used in the day-night Test last year. The PCB had also mulled hosting West Indies in Sri Lanka to counter the growing expenses in the UAE, which has been host to Pakistan’s home series for a decade now. The idea, however, was dropped after assessing the drawbacks of playing in Sri Lanka during the monsoon. The PCB said in a statement it “will host its first ever day-night Test match from October 13-17 to be played with the pink ball under lights at the Dubai Cricket Stadium.” The West Indies will tune up for the day-night Test with a three-day side game in Sharjah, also under lights. The PCB had offered to host the Twenty20s in Pakistan, but the West Indies refused on security fears. Pakistan has not hosted any international cricket – barring three one-days and as many Twenty20s against minnows Zimbabwe in May last year – since an terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan bus in March 2009. Despite playing all their matches in the neutral venues of the UAE, Pakistan rose to number one in the Test rankings earlier this week after drawing their four-match series against England 2-2. Landmark achievement for Pakistan: “This will be a landmark achievement to host day-night Test,” PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said, adding that he expected the Test to attract a good number of fans in stadium. “Pakistan is currently at top in the Test ranking. I believe this would be a good attraction for fans to come and watch the number one Test team,” the PCB chief said. The chairman further termed the contest as an opportunity to prepare for the pink ball Test against Australia at Brisbane’s Gabba ground later in the season. “This would also help PCB to generate revenue and gain financial rewards,” Shaharyar added. Schedule: 20-September: WI v ECB XI warm-up T20 Dubai 23-September: 1st T20 Dubai 24-Septemeber: 2nd T20 Dubai By Special Correspondent LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Thursday announced the schedule for the national team’s series against the West Indies in the United Arab Emirates beginning next month, including their first-ever day-night Test. The series, which runs from September 23 to November 3, includes three Twenty20 internationals and as many one-day and Tests, the highlight being the day-night Test in Dubai in October. Australia hosted the first-ever day-night Test at Adelaide against New Zealand in November last year, with high attendance figures as it drew fans who could watch the match after their working hours. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is attempting to revive waning interest in the five-day game with the day-night innovation, and termed the Adelaide Test a ‘big success’. Australia will also host two day-night Tests against South Africa and then Pakistan during their home season, starting in November. Pakistan’s plans to host the day-night Test were made after they agreed to play Australia. The West Indies Test will give them their first taste of playing an international match with the new pink balls used in the day-night Test last year. The PCB had also mulled hosting West Indies in Sri Lanka to counter the growing expenses in the UAE, which has been host to Pakistan’s home series for a decade now. The idea, however, was dropped after assessing the drawbacks of playing in Sri Lanka during the monsoon. The PCB said in a statement it “will host its first ever day-night Test match from October 13-17 to be played with the pink ball under lights at the Dubai Cricket Stadium.” The West Indies will tune up for the day-night Test with a three-day side game in Sharjah, also under lights. The PCB had offered to host the Twenty20s in Pakistan, but the West Indies refused on security fears. Pakistan has not hosted any international cricket – barring three one-days and as many Twenty20s against minnows Zimbabwe in May last year – since an terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan bus in March 2009. Despite playing all their matches in the neutral venues of the UAE, Pakistan rose to number one in the Test rankings earlier this week after drawing their four-match series against England 2-2. Landmark achievement for Pakistan: “This will be a landmark achievement to host day-night Test,” PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said, adding that he expected the Test to attract a good number of fans in stadium. “Pakistan is currently at top in the Test ranking. I believe this would be a good attraction for fans to come and watch the number one Test team,” the PCB chief said. The chairman further termed the contest as an opportunity to prepare for the pink ball Test against Australia at Brisbane’s Gabba ground later in the season. “This would also help PCB to generate revenue and gain financial rewards,” Shaharyar added. Schedule: 20-September: WI v ECB XI warm-up T20 Dubai 23-September: 1st T20 Dubai 24-Septemeber: 2nd T20 Dubai 27-September: 3rd T20 Abu Dhabi 30-Septemeber: 1st one-day International – D/N Sharjah 02-October: 2nd one-day International – D/N Sharjah 3-4 October: WI v ECB XI two-day warm-up match Dubai 05-October: 3rd one-day International – D/N Abu Dhabi 07-9 October: 3-day match – WI Vs. PCB Patrons XI – D/N Sharjah 13-17 October: 1st Test Match – D/N Dubai 21-25 October: 2nd Test Match Abu Dhabi 30-October-3 November 3rd Test Match Sharjah. 3rd T20 Abu Dhabi 30-Septemeber: 1st one-day International – D/N Sharjah 02-October: 2nd one-day International – D/N Sharjah 3-4 October: WI v ECB XI two-day warm-up match Dubai 05-October: 3rd one-day International – D/N Abu Dhabi 07-9 October: 3-day match – WI Vs. PCB Patrons XI – D/N Sharjah 13-17 October: 1st Test Match – D/N Dubai 21-25 October: 2nd Test Match Abu Dhabi 30-October-3 November 3rd Test Match Sharjah.