PCB to use Kookaburra balls for home Tests, Dukes for domestic season

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that Kookaburra cricket balls will be used for seven home Test matches in the ICC World Test Championship.

These matches will include two Tests against Bangladesh, three against England, and two against the West Indies.

Under the ICC World Test Championship rules, the home board has the discretion to choose the brand of cricket balls used.

The domestic cricket season is scheduled to start next month. For this season, Dukes balls will be used in all senior red-ball domestic matches.

For grassroots and developmental cricket, the PCB will use Aceline and Grays balls in Under-13, Under-17, and Under-19 tournaments, as well as in schools, universities, clubs, and inter-district competitions. This choice follows a thorough analysis of domestic ground and pitch conditions, with Dukes balls customized to suit local pitch characteristics.

In domestic 50-over and T20 matches, the PCB will stick with Kookaburra balls to maintain consistency with international standards, as Kookaburra is the brand used for all white-ball cricket worldwide, including ICC events.

The PCB is confident that with Tony Hemming’s recent appointment as Chief Curator, the pitches for the 2024-25 season will be well-prepared to accommodate the use of various cricket balls. Hemming will collaborate with relevant departments to create pitches that improve the quality of the game while maintaining a balanced contest between bat and ball.

Besides overseeing pitch preparation, Tony Hemming will also be responsible for training and coaching local curators, ensuring that pitches across different regions and districts are consistently prepared.