Pakistan vs West Indies 1st Test: Toss Delayed Due to Poor Visibility
Pakistan vs West Indies 1st Test: Toss Delayed Due to Poor Visibility
The toss in the opening Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies in Multan was delayed due to low visibility and high pollution levels. The Pakistan Cricket Board stated that the umpires would assess conditions once visibility improves. The air quality was deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups and was expected to worsen.
NEW DELHI: The toss in the first Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies in Multan was delayed on Friday due to poor visibility and high pollution levels reported by air quality monitors.
Pakistan frequently experiences winter pollution, which has significant health impacts.
"The visibility has been affected due to fog, so the toss has been delayed," the Pakistan Cricket Board stated.
The start of play on Day 1 of the first Test between Pakistan and the West Indies was delayed due to dense fog that engulfed the Multan Cricket Stadium on Friday, January 17. Although the players began training on the outfield, the toss did not take place as scheduled. The first session of play was washed out due to poor visibility at the iconic venue.
The pitch remained covered throughout the first session as players, match officials, and ground staff assessed the situation around the scheduled toss time. Visibility did not improve until 12 pm local time, two hours after the scheduled start. The West Indies held a cap presentation ceremony before the scheduled start, but players returned to their dressing rooms as foggy conditions persisted. At one point, ground staff covered the pitch to protect it from moisture.
The situation improved toward noon, prompting the ground staff to swing back into action. Locals noted that the likelihood of more than four hours of play on Friday was slim, as the sun sets early during winter evenings in Multan.
Pakistan will aim to continue their dominance in home Tests as they take on the West Indies. After defeating England 2-1 at home last year, Pakistan faced a setback with a 0-2 away loss in South Africa, which dealt a significant blow to their World Test Championship final hopes.
Following a shocking 0-2 home defeat to Bangladesh in August, Pakistan revamped their bowling attack. The return of experienced spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan proved pivotal in their series win against England.
On the eve of the first Test in Multan, Pakistan announced their playing XI, with Noman Ali and Sajid Khan making a comeback after missing the South Africa.
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