Pakistan wants six-day Tests in winter

Pakistan cricket authorities will ask the International Cricket Council (ICC) to allow six-day Tests to be played in winter to reduce the impact of bad light and poor weather on play.

Pakistan would also start experimenting with orange cricket balls in domestic matches to combat the problem of poor light, Shaharyar Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), told a news conference on Monday.

"We want clearance to have six-day Tests between November 15 and January 15 every year when bad light and poor weather usually badly affect Tests," he said.

Shaharyar also said Pakistan would ask the ICC to review its policy on playing Tests under lights.

"From the experience we have had, even when the lights have been switched on in Tests play has been stopped by the umpires for bad light as the lighting has not been good enough," he said.

"We are going to ask the ICC to increase the international requirements of lighting power for Test matches."

Pakistan, who's last home series against England at the end of 2005 was badly affected by bad light and weather, would also start experimenting with an orange ball in a domestic tournament from February 1.

"The idea is if players can't sight the red or white balls under lights properly in Tests, then why can't the ICC experiment with orange-coloured balls?

"We are going to experiment with them ourselves in day and under lights and report back to the ICC," he added.

Shaharyar also said former Test pacer Sarfraz Nawaz had been asked to continue working with banned Shabbir Ahmed to further correct his action.

Shabbir was banned by the ICC in December for 12 months for having an illegal bowling action. An appeal was turned down earlier this month by a bowling review group set up by the ICC.