Pakistan reverts to previous home cricket construction

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday reverted to its earlier construction of home cricket which included departmental and regional groups, whereas additionally including one other First-Class competitors to the calendar.

The choice to maneuver again to the previous system means Pakistan cricket authorities have achieved away with the “quality over quantity” philosophy, applied on the directions of former Prime Minister and 1992 World Cup profitable captain Imran Khan.

The PCB experimented with having home cricket with six groups for the final three years.

The 2023-24 home season will characteristic two separate First-Class occasions — the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the Presidents Cup — with a complete of 16 departmental and regional groups within the fray.

The board can even organise non First-Class occasions for 10 regional groups and extra departments within the season.

In 2019, Khan’s proposal for a brand new home system had scrapped the function of the departmental groups in Pakistan cricket.

Only six areas have been allowed to compete within the premier First-Class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, whereas the second XIs of the identical groups competed in a non First-Class event concurrently.

The board, with none sponsorship for the brand new construction, straight paid the gamers their match charges, allowances and month-to-month contracts apart from air journey and keep in premier accommodations.

The plan proposed by Khan was applied and adopted by former chairman Ehsan Mani and Ramiz Raja, and had are available in for loads of criticism for ending departmental cricket, which has been the spine of Pakistan cricket for the reason that Nineteen Seventies.

Not solely the previous PM, however the board was additionally criticised for costing lots of of cricketers their jobs with departmental groups.

In the brand new home construction introduced on Friday, the board stated the 2023-24 home season will carry extra competitors and high quality cricket with enhanced incomes alternatives.

The system will now have eight regional sides and as many departmental groups competing in separate First-Class tournaments.

“This step will make sure that the regions and departments compete on a level playing field by utilising the best available talent,” a press release stated.

The board stated the home construction is framed by the PCB Cricket Technical Committee, which is headed by former captains Misbah-ul-Haq and consists of Mohammad Hafeez.

“The committee had several meetings with all stakeholders to bring them on board, including regional presidents and representatives of departments,” the discharge stated.

Pakistan’s home season will begin on September 10 with the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, pitting high regional groups towards one another, following which, the highest eight departments will characteristic within the President’s Trophy, beginning December 15.

The two tournaments shall be performed on a single-league foundation and the desk toppers will play the ultimate.

The 18 regional sides have been slotted with eight groups taking part in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, whereas 10 areas shall be taking part in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy, a non First-Class four-day event.

The board has renamed the non First-Class occasion as a tribute to one in every of Pakistan’s best batters.

PCB knowledgeable that 40 departmental and financial institution sides had registered for the upcoming season.

The board additionally introduced white-ball List A and T20 occasions for the areas, with all 18 areas that includes within the T20 championship.

PCB added that departments can even play a white-ball event, the small print of which shall be introduced later.