[REPORT] No more mandatory coin toss in Pakistan first-class games

[Abdullah719]

Pakistan have decided to do away with the practice of toss in first-class matches from this season. For the first time in Pakistan cricket history, first-class matches in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will be played with visiting teams having the option of opting for a “no-toss start” to the game.

“The home team will have no advantage of the toss. Usually what happens is that the home side prefers making pitches that suit pacers. So, they prefer bowling after winning the toss. Under the new playing conditions, the coin will be tossed if the visitors deny the first option – to bowl first,” a Pakistan Cricket Board domestic cricket affairs official said. “The change has been made to keep options neutral rather than giving extra advantage to the home team.

“Now we believe that better pitches will be prepared in the coming first-class season. There is a dire need to have good pitches for competitive first class cricket. Every measure has been ensured to have good playing strips. Curators’ performance will also be under scrutiny and those showing skills and knowledge will stay.”

He said PCB CEO Wasim Khan had floated the idea and the board’s other officials responded positively. The PCB intends to launch the new season from September 12 with its premier Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

“I am surprised to see the scorecard of a couple of years’ first-class cricket,” Wasim said. “It gave me the impression that there is something seriously wrong. Matches finishing in a couple of days, teams getting out for low score, no tough matches that should be the forte of any first class cricket. We are considering other options and are even contemplating having no toss in first class matches.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last Wednesday had amended it’s constitution which will see its patron – the Prime Minister – less powerful. This is the fourth time in the last 12 years that the PCB constitution has been redrafted.

Pakistan will also host Sri Lanka for six limited over internationals starting next month, the two cricket boards said Friday, another step towards reviving international cricket in the country after years of isolation.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news/no-more-mandatory-coin-toss-in-pakistan-first-class-games-884259

 

[DrSchultz]

Seems like a good decision.
BTW the QeA trophy is set to start next month yet no squads have been finalized, nor do we have a schedule.

 

[Titan24]

Yes not a bad thing to try especially in domestics as players will consistently learn to play in all sorts of conditions and in all sorts of days without it being decided by the coin.

Also good to know things are going forward and court issues havent effected the work being done.

 

[MMHS]

Bad idea - WK is importing this one from England.

Of the two issues (before implementing this one) that needs to be solved, I believe first one will be done this year - home ground. At least we can hope that Habib Bank with 8 Punjabi players won’t play National bank with 7 Sindhi at a venue in Peshawar where even official scores struggle to identify the players. I hope this time Punjab will play their home match at Lahore & Sindh at Karachi.

2nd one is the quality of wicket - I am damn sure even the groundsmen of PCB don’t have much clue on what they are producing, therefore it would be injustice to home team if they are denied of the luck of toss, just because of being host. In UK, it might have a logic because teams have dedicated “home” grounds and their groundsmen are capable of producing something that might favour the home team - not in PAK, not with PCB’s groundsmen.

It’s an unnecessary step - unless it’s implemented at international national level, I don’t think it helps much. I personally never liked the idea and won’t support it at any case. Instead of this, what WK/PCB needs to focus on is -
1. Dedicated home venue where there is an emotional attachment for players (like Tendulkar playing at Wankhade, Sobers at Barbados, Warne at MCG or DK Lillee at WACA)
2. Quality wickets which automatically takes the toss out of equation over 4 innings - if you bat first, you’ll have counter new balls on day 1 .... if you decide to chase, you’ll have to do it on day 4 against spinners.
3. Proper game duration - at least 400 overs, so that any team can have a realistic chance to make a comeback over other 3 innings (apart from one innings that they were handicapped).

At current context, even with defined “home” grounds of 6 regional teams, taking out or keeping Toss won’t help anyone if the FC game is basically a joke of 4 List A innings, on absolute shockers. And, if they make it batting belters - it’ll be even bigger disaster, 1200 runs scored in 4 days in 270 overs (that’s average possible playing time in PAK between Oct - Dec) at the cost of 18-19 wickets and 90%+ games settled based on the first innings making a mockery of 4 innings game. Cricket is a slow, traditional game which needs some unique conditions to master - wickets & match duration are first two of those. It’ll be better for PAK cricket, if PCB/WK focuses more on fixing the issues in traditional line, instead of importing ideas.

 

[DrSchultz]

At current context, even with defined “home” grounds of 6 regional teams, taking out or keeping Toss won’t help anyone if the FC game is basically a joke of 4 List A innings, on absolute shockers. And, if they make it batting belters - it’ll be even bigger disaster, 1200 runs scored in 4 days in 270 overs (that’s average possible playing time in PAK between Oct - Dec) at the cost of 18-19 wickets and 90%+ games settled based on the first innings making a mockery of 4 innings game. Cricket is a slow, traditional game which needs some unique conditions to master - wickets & match duration are first two of those. It’ll be better for PAK cricket, if PCB/WK focuses more on fixing the issues in traditional line, instead of importing ideas.

Do you think it would help if matches are started earlier? Say at 8 AM instead of the traditional 10. Break times can also be tweaked to ensure maximum overs can be bowled.

 

[MMHS]

Do you think it would help if matches are started earlier? Say at 8 AM instead of the traditional 10. Break times can also be tweaked to ensure maximum overs can be bowled.

It’s not possible - the issue isn’t when you start the game; rather in PAK, during the period QeA trophy tournament takes place (Sep-Dec) there is not enough day light available for 100+ overs/day.

I can recall between mid 80s to mid 2000s, when a MUCH better PAK team failed to enforce win from commanding position in many Tests because of touring teams wasting time and day called off after 4:30pm ..... while PCB’s schedule planners keep plans to complete 450 overs extending games beyond Magrib. Actually, PAK has played maximum number of curtailed ODI games before flood light days - PCB kept schedules for 100 overs, games ending with 89-91 overs max.

PCB has to shift FC cricket period from the shortest day-light time. On papers you can start the game at 9am (8am isn’t possible, neither suggested - players need proper warming up & nets in morning. Also, on day 1 you need extra 30 minutes for toss and other 3 days extra 30 minutes to make up slow over rate - that’s 7:30 start!!!!), but most games in north PAK (basically apart from Karachi, Hyderabad & may be Multan), games will be severely hampered by fog, smog and poor visibility outside 10am to 4pm - that’s 5 hours playing time and max 72-74 overs/day, that too on a very sunny day & not much time wasting.

Technically, you can play FC games for 5 days, but that’s also not suggested- Test cricket (cricket as a whole) is a game of endurance - physically & mentally. Playing 70 overs game over 5 days in winter (340-350 overs max) won’t make PAK pacers tempered enough for 90 overs/day and 450 overs in 5 days. And, batmen also keep getting “fatigued” after batting for 3-4 hours.

Only solution - split FC season between two periods: 3-4 rounds between late August/early September (must end by 30 September) for 360 overs minimum (preferably 380, if not 400); and then next round from March to mid May), for 7 hours/day playing time, starting at 9:30. The shortest day-light period is for all the white ball (T20 & List A) cricket, where you can use artificial light.

 

[Nasty Naz]

I personally think coin tosses shouldn't exist in Test matches either and visiting teams should have the option to bat or field. It's already a massive advantage for the home team to be playing on their own ground and winning the toss just makes it even more absurd.