The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the selection of cricket ball brands for the 2024-25 cricket season, a move designed to improve game quality and meet the specific demands of home playing conditions.
As the domestic cricket season kicks off next month, the PCB confirmed that Duke balls will be used for all senior red-ball domestic events. Aceline and Grays, local brands, will be employed for pathways and grassroots cricket, including U15, U17, U19 tournaments, as well as school, university, club, and inter-district competitions. This decision follows a detailed analysis of pitch conditions across domestic venues, with Duke balls tailored to suit local pitches.
For domestic 50-over and T20 competitions, the PCB will continue using Kookaburra cricket balls, maintaining alignment with international standards since all white-ball cricket, including ICC events, is played with Kookaburra balls.
In the upcoming seven ICC World Test Championship fixtures, the PCB will use Kookaburra balls. These matches include two Tests against Bangladesh, three against England, and two against the West Indies. Under ICC World Test Championship rules, the home board decides the brand of cricket balls for their matches.
With Tony Hemming recently appointed as Chief Curator, the PCB is confident in preparing pitches that support the use of various cricket balls throughout the 2024-25 season. Hemming will collaborate with relevant departments to create pitches that enhance gameplay while maintaining a competitive balance between bat and ball.
Additionally, Hemming will oversee the training and coaching of local curators, ensuring consistent pitch quality across regions and districts.
