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In this exclusive interview, Khurram Niazi, Director Domestic Cricket at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), sheds light on the ongoing transformation of Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure. The former first-class cricketer discusses the revival of school and club cricket, the rebuilding of infrastructure across 108 districts, the introduction of live streaming at the domestic level, and PCB’s renewed focus on player development — and much more.
Key revelations include:
* Infrastructure overhaul: The widespread implementation of new organizational units is intended to streamline the administration and development of the sport far beyond major cricketing centers, providing local governance and resources for grassroots programs.As Khurram mentioned, “In 108 districts, we now have full-fledged cricket departments.” – Expanding Pakistan’s cricketing base nationwide
* Grassroots revival: This focus acknowledges that school-level competition is the most fundamental source for identifying and grooming young talent, establishing a robust and naturalized pathway for new players to enter the professional system. “School cricket is the nursery of Pakistan cricket.” – Renewed focus on school and club competitions
* Digital innovation: This commitment to broadcasting local games simultaneously, often using in-house production, dramatically increases the visibility of domestic players, helps scouts identify talent, and generates national interest in the domestic circuit. “We’re live streaming three domestic matches at the same time — for the first time in PCB history.” – Making local cricket accessible to fans
* Need for consistency: Khurram Niazi emphasizes the importance of avoiding frequent changes to the domestic tournament formats and structures, ensuring that players, coaches, and administrators can operate within a predictable and stable environment for long-term skill development “Every structure should continue regularly.” – Stressing long-term stability in domestic tournaments
* Talent development: By establishing dedicated training hubs in every region, the PCB aims to decentralize high-performance training, standardize coaching quality, and ensure that promising young players across the country have access to elite facilities. “We’ll establish 16 academies across Pakistan — one for each region.” – PCB’s plan to strengthen the talent pipeline
* Optimism for the future: This confidence stems from the belief that these sweeping organizational and structural reforms—particularly the deeper grassroots focus and better talent pipeline—will inevitably lead to a higher quantity and quality of players feeding into the national side. “We have a strong domestic backup — better days are coming for Pakistan cricket.” – Confidence in the next generatio
Watch the latest interview with Saj below:
Key revelations include:
* Infrastructure overhaul: The widespread implementation of new organizational units is intended to streamline the administration and development of the sport far beyond major cricketing centers, providing local governance and resources for grassroots programs.As Khurram mentioned, “In 108 districts, we now have full-fledged cricket departments.” – Expanding Pakistan’s cricketing base nationwide
* Grassroots revival: This focus acknowledges that school-level competition is the most fundamental source for identifying and grooming young talent, establishing a robust and naturalized pathway for new players to enter the professional system. “School cricket is the nursery of Pakistan cricket.” – Renewed focus on school and club competitions
* Digital innovation: This commitment to broadcasting local games simultaneously, often using in-house production, dramatically increases the visibility of domestic players, helps scouts identify talent, and generates national interest in the domestic circuit. “We’re live streaming three domestic matches at the same time — for the first time in PCB history.” – Making local cricket accessible to fans
* Need for consistency: Khurram Niazi emphasizes the importance of avoiding frequent changes to the domestic tournament formats and structures, ensuring that players, coaches, and administrators can operate within a predictable and stable environment for long-term skill development “Every structure should continue regularly.” – Stressing long-term stability in domestic tournaments
* Talent development: By establishing dedicated training hubs in every region, the PCB aims to decentralize high-performance training, standardize coaching quality, and ensure that promising young players across the country have access to elite facilities. “We’ll establish 16 academies across Pakistan — one for each region.” – PCB’s plan to strengthen the talent pipeline
* Optimism for the future: This confidence stems from the belief that these sweeping organizational and structural reforms—particularly the deeper grassroots focus and better talent pipeline—will inevitably lead to a higher quantity and quality of players feeding into the national side. “We have a strong domestic backup — better days are coming for Pakistan cricket.” – Confidence in the next generatio
Watch the latest interview with Saj below:
