PCB Cricket Committee recommends PCB should find a window for departmental tournament in 2020/21

[MenInG]

Outcomes of PCB Cricket Committee meeting

• Committee briefed on domestic cricket, NOC policy, international men’s and women’s cricket

Karachi, 20 February 2020:

The PCB Cricket Committee held its first meeting of 2020 under the chairmanship of former Test spinner Iqbal Qasim. Wasim Akram, Umar Gul, Urooj Mumtaz, Ali Naqvi, Wasim Khan and Zakir Khan (both co-opted members) attended the session.

Pakistan head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq and Haroon Rashid, Director – Domestic cricket operations, attended the meeting on special invitations.

The cricket committee recommended the PCB should explore a window in the 2020-21 domestic cricket to slot in a tournament for the departments. In this relation, Director – Domestic cricket operations, Haroon Rashid, has been requested to look into the potential window in the next season and update the cricket committee at the next meeting, which is expected in April.

Haroon briefed the committee that the PCB has hosted 12 tournaments, comprising 190 matches, in the season to date. His presentation also included learnings, such as quality of practice facilities, food provision for players, player remunerations and standard of wickets, amongst other areas. The committee requested that updates on the areas for improvement be provided at the next meeting in April.

The cricket committee appreciated that the quality of cricket this season had vastly improved, which has also been acknowledged through player feedback.

There was a discussion on the appointment of the six Cricket Association coaches and the process that will be adopted for analysing and assessing their performance. It was agreed that further investment in developing the knowledge, skills and capabilities of the elite coaches was needed in order to adopt more modern practices.

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan briefed the committee that a more through fit for purpose and revised No Objection Certificate (NOC) policy for players had been developed. The committee supported the revised NOC policy, while requesting that the PCB should fully and strictly follow it to ensure that Pakistan’s elite cricketers continue to give precedence to domestic tournaments above all else.

The committee had a healthy discussion with Misbah-ul-Haq, who appraised them on his selection policies, performance of the side and forward planning. The cricket committee recommended more clarity around the selection process.

Misbah informed the committee that he had developed a nucleus of players, especially across Twenty20 cricket. The former captain added the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 will help him give final shape to his pool of players for this year’s Asia Cup and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Urooj Mumtaz, who is also head of women’s wing and chair of the national women’s selection committee, provided an overview and update on the progress women’s cricket have made in the past 12 month. She informed the committee about the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be held from 21 February to 8 March. Pakistan will play their opening match against the West Indies on 26 February in Canberra.

Urooj briefed the committee on the ICC’s decision to introduce the ICC Women’s U19 Cricket World Cup, which will help in identifying and developing young talent and nurturing them into word-class cricketers. The committee congratulated Urooj on the progress being made.

The committee insisted more investment, effort and work was needed to further promote and develop women’s cricket.

 

[minamino]

Departmental cricket set to make a comeback

What a flop strategy from Wasim Khan, Ehsan Mani and last and the least Mr. Imran Khan Niazi.

 

[Shoaib88]

Great news! It was sad to see pakistan first class cricketers selling vegetables and driving tuk tuks on streets of karachi to make a living

 

[shah_1]

Good news

Both system can co exit

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Apparently seperate from the actual division. Interesting.

 

[TrentDevil]

This will be a separate tournament, the QeA structure will remain as it is

 

[TrentDevil]

Karachi, 20 February 2020: The PCB Cricket Committee held its first meeting of 2020 under the chairmanship of former Test spinner Iqbal Qasim. Wasim Akram, Umar Gul, Urooj Mumtaz, Ali Naqvi, Wasim Khan and Zakir Khan (both co-opted members) attended the session.

Pakistan head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq and Haroon Rashid, Director – Domestic cricket operations, attended the meeting on special invitations.

The cricket committee recommended the PCB should explore a window in the 2020-21 domestic cricket to slot in a tournament for the departments. In this relation, Director – Domestic cricket operations, Haroon Rashid, has been requested to look into the potential window in the next season and update the cricket committee at the next meeting, which is expected in April.

Haroon briefed the committee that the PCB has hosted 12 tournaments, comprising 190 matches, in the season to date. His presentation also included learnings, such as quality of practice facilities, food provision for players, player remunerations and standard of wickets, amongst other areas. The committee requested that updates on the areas for improvement be provided at the next meeting in April.

The cricket committee appreciated that the quality of cricket this season had vastly improved, which has also been acknowledged through player feedback.

There was a discussion on the appointment of the six Cricket Association coaches and the process that will be adopted for analysing and assessing their performance. It was agreed that further investment in developing the knowledge, skills and capabilities of the elite coaches was needed in order to adopt more modern practices.

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan briefed the committee that a more through fit for purpose and revised No Objection Certificate (NOC) policy for players had been developed. The committee supported the revised NOC policy, while requesting that the PCB should fully and strictly follow it to ensure that Pakistan’s elite cricketers continue to give precedence to domestic tournaments above all else.

The committee had a healthy discussion with Misbah-ul-Haq, who appraised them on his selection policies, performance of the side and forward planning. The cricket committee recommended more clarity around the selection process.

Misbah informed the committee that he had developed a nucleus of players, especially across Twenty20 cricket. The former captain added the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 will help him give final shape to his pool of players for this year’s Asia Cup and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Urooj Mumtaz, who is also head of women’s wing and chair of the national women’s selection committee, provided an overview and update on the progress women’s cricket have made in the past 12 month. She informed the committee about the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be held from 21 February to 8 March. Pakistan will play their opening match against the West Indies on 26 February in Canberra.

Urooj briefed the committee on the ICC’s decision to introduce the ICC Women’s U19 Cricket World Cup, which will help in identifying and developing young talent and nurturing them into word-class cricketers. The committee congratulated Urooj on the progress being made.

The committee insisted more investment, effort and work was needed to further promote and develop women’s cricket.


PCB Press Release

 

[Abdullah719]

This was always likely. As long as it's just one tournament, it isn't an issue, I guess.

 

[CleverSir]

I hope Wasim Khan squash's this in the bud. Need to put in a lot work into establishing the new set-up and give it time to mature. Also need to kick out old heads from the cricket committee. Why was Iqbal Qasim made head of this committee? Why not give it to any of the other members who have been on it for a while and know/have a sense of the direction the PCB management wants to take things. We always do this, 2 steps forward, 3 back.

 

[Markhor]

That's why Iqbal Qasim was brought back.

So a TTF administrator will be reviving a TTF system. Just restrict it to one tournament.

 

[Ami]

Why doesnt PCB just show some balls and grow up...C'm on people, stop panicking?
The likes of Rashid and Qasim...back in the fold, what did you expect?

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

No one gives a donkeys about PIA vs Habib Bank and all that stuff apart from uneducated ex or current players.

Try telling that to our Oxford educated World Cup winning PM.

Just remember one bouncer from Imran Khan and they'll all be on the floor even at his age )

 

[Bewal Express]

As long as the QA trophy is the pinnacle of domestic cricket, then having pointless cricket for Dept is fine. I suggested the time between the end of QA trophy and the start of the PSL.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Needs to be flatly rejected and anyone supporting this idea ousted from their jobs.

 

[Savak]

Have an extra departmental ODI and T20 tournament but departments should be banned from the 4 day competitions

 

[moghul]

Departments should be offered to sponsor a regional team but not forming a team of their own. Who would watch the match involving one bank vs and another bank.

 

[Abdullah719]

As long as the other tournaments remain as they are, I don't think there should be any issues with this. The players will get an additional source of much-needed income and there will be more cricket.

 

[FreePalestine]

Everyone complaining about departments really don’t understand the situation. The new FC structure will remain. The highest level of Pakistani cricket will still be the quaid-e-azam trophy. This will be an ancillary tournament which will accomplish some very important things - getting more money into the domestic game. PCB took a huge hit by getting rid of departments. Some kind of role for them was essential. By proving that they could host the domestic tournament without them they gained leverage in the negotiations.

However, key details are still missing. Wasim Khan is doing good press conferences and explaining the direction they are going in, but all this stuff is still pretty unclear. Who will play in this department league? Tbh, in my opinion, it should not be the top players already playing in the 1st and 2nd teams of the domestic teams but should cater to those players who have not made the cut but still show promise. In this way, I want it to be a feeder league for the domestic comp. This is important for two reasons 1) Clear hierarchy between the leagues is necessary to avoid unnecessary competitiveness and brinkmanship between the leagues, 2) you do not want your core domestic players exhausted by so much domestic cricket + foreign leagues + intl cricket. We need more clarity on their plans regarding this as well as city and school cricket!

 

[FreePalestine]

Also, players in this domestic comp should not get paid more than those in our FC structure. If they want to pay them high salaries, the corporations should provide subsidies to the PCB to bring parity in pay structures in both leagues at least. I know this may not be very feasible, but I would like to see some solution to the pay gap that would undoubtedly arise if they allow departments to set their own salaries

 

[MoFresh23]

[MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] [MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION] When can we expect a interview with Wasim Khan? Can we get an interview with him after PSL?? Greatly appreciate it.

 

[Titan24]

If its a separate tournament and new domestic structure remains intact I dont think there is an issue rather its good.

 

[MenInG]

Misbah-ul-Haq speaking to the press:

“Regarding departmental cricket, the board is trying to do something about the cricketers. You don’t want to end the income of cricketers or to make players less or cause them financial loss. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do too much on this so far. We also had problems due to three months of COVID. My opinion is that the board should think about this as should the govt and I have said this before as well."

 

[Savak]

The PCBs position is that the departments are free to hold their own tournaments themselves but the matches won't be given first class status

 

[shah_1]

Just give them one day and T20 tournament, so they could shut up.

 

[Savak]

Just give them one day and T20 tournament, so they could shut up.

That is definitely acceptable provided it's not a long window. However they should be asked to fund the tournaments, the costs themselves

 

[shah_1]

Media report

Tommrow 25 mins with Imran Khan-Wasim Akram, Mani, Wasim Khan, Hafeez, Misbah and Azhar will be there and two current cricketers and head coach will ask for the revival of department cricket

 

[Titan24]

I dont mind department cricket happening on the side but, the question is which players will play in them (Top FC players will need off season time as well) and how will it fit in the schedule. Also what will be status of the tournament with regards to national selections.

Definitely these and some other questions needs to be answered before its revival and its smooth transition into new domestic structure based upon regional systems.

 

[Syed1]

Media report

Tommrow 25 mins with Imran Khan-Wasim Akram, Mani, Wasim Khan, Hafeez, Misbah and Azhar will be there and two current cricketers and head coach will ask for the revival of department cricket

So people like Wasim Khan, Muhammad Hafeez, Misbah ul Haq and to top it off Azhar Ali will be involved in deep decision making of Pakistan cricket.


Then we wonder why we are floundering


Awkward moment when even an unqualified journalist Najam Sethi was a better administrator than Wasim Khan who is being taken for a ride by the babus in PCB.

 

[Syed1]

Also what is the concern with this present system? It seems to be working just fine. Also players are being compensated at a better rate with stable contracts. Maybe there is too much merit and some oldies are feeling the pressure that they may have their ayashi robbed off them.

 

[Bewal Express]

For PK crickets development the new system has to survive but if a window can be found Between the end of QA trophy in Dec and the start of PSL in Feb they should allow a ODI tournament for Dept or a tournament after the PSL in March.

 

[Markhor]

Let the National T20 be a departmental tournament. However the FC competition must be regional. Someone should ask Azhar and Misbah which country on earth has this departmental setup where airlines and banks compete.

Umar Gul is saying he can't afford his living expenses from regional cricket. What the hell has he done with his money after a decade long international career ?!

 

[Markhor]

Social media has a lot of flaws, but I love how these shameless TV anchors jumping on the departmental bandwagon are getting hammered by our fans who are overwhelmingly pro-current system.

 

[Shaka81]

I don't understand why departments can't sponsor regions and expand teams to include a third XI as well as the first and seconds. Include youth academies and you've got a properly functioning professional setup.
Instead of a weird system where cricket is played between random departments that can never have connection with fans!

 

[Savak]

Media report

Tommrow 25 mins with Imran Khan-Wasim Akram, Mani, Wasim Khan, Hafeez, Misbah and Azhar will be there and two current cricketers and head coach will ask for the revival of department cricket

Imran Khan has to do better than just give 25 minutes. Why not meet them on a weekend at Bali Gala where he is taking a day or two off, like meet them for dinner, lunch, host them. As it is he is besties with Wasim Akram. Surely he can meet these guys for 3-4 hours where they can talk about these things in detail and find a solution.

Extremely dissapointing attitude from the PM who is the best cricketer in his countries history.

Secondly the govt needs to be innovative i.e. give tax incentives, tax deductions to departments, organizations for employing cricketers, imposing fines, penalties on departments for laying off or cutting the pay, hours of sportsmen. These departments are worth billions and surely they can afford to sponsor atleast 50 sportsmen each.

 

[Savak]

For PK crickets development the new system has to survive but if a window can be found Between the end of QA trophy in Dec and the start of PSL in Feb they should allow a ODI tournament for Dept or a tournament after the PSL in March.

Pakistan as it is struggling in the ODI and T-20 format so at the most these departments can be accomodated for an ODI and T-20 tournament and this will be beneficial for our domestic structure as it means Pakistani players will have 2 domestic ODI tournaments and 2 domestic T-20 tournaments during the year.

 

[CleverSir]

I hope Imran Khan shuts this nonsense down. The new compensation packages are pretty good. Need to keep developing the new system and its lower tiers.

Can’t keep looking backwards. If departments care so much about cricket they should start sponsoring the cricket teams and get logos and such onto kits etc. The notion that Umar Gul etc is struggling financially is laughable given the high profile career he has had. His struggles are on him and his poor financial management.

For the first time ever, I’m actually looking forward to following Pakistani domestic cricket because I can relate to Central Punjab team. If PIA, KRL, Whoever wants to pay money to sponsor the team great. Also these players need to man up and start performing to have spots on provincial sides.

 

[anonymous_guy]

Let the National T20 be a departmental tournament. However the FC competition must be regional. Someone should ask Azhar and Misbah which country on earth has this departmental setup where airlines and banks compete.

Umar Gul is saying he can't afford his living expenses from regional cricket. What the hell has he done with his money after a decade long international career ?!

This statement from Umar Gul is quiet irrational, especially after being a part of the national team for almost a decade, playing in T20 leagues across the world including the PSL. To add to this his wife is a doctor (not sure if she is still practicing).

He is among a few gentlemen in Pakistan's cricket history, this statement though isn't expected from him.

 

[Savak]

Apparently the Prime Minister IK has said no to the revival of departmental cricket and has told the players to trust the new system and to give it time before it becomes financially stable

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Misbah hafeez and azhar rlly thought they could change Imrans mind on this lmao. Regional cricket is here to stay. Way better.

 

[shah_1]

We were minnows in last 10 year despite department cricket. We were so good in 90s was because of active and healthy club cricket, nothing to do with department cricket.

The core issue is our grassroot cricket, that has declined, hardly any club cricket compared to 90s and 80s

 

[TrentDevil]

We were minnows in last 10 year despite department cricket. We were so good in 90s was because of active and healthy club cricket, nothing to do with department cricket.

The core issue is our grassroot cricket, that has declined, hardly any club cricket compared to 90s and 80s

Do you think tape ball cricket is also a cause? I am seeing some local tape ball cricket tournaments broadcasting live on YT & FB and the stadiums are full of crowd and some 40-50k watched online as well. Has tape ball cricket sidelined proper club cricket?

 

[Savak]

Misbah hafeez and azhar rlly thought they could change Imrans mind on this lmao. Regional cricket is here to stay. Way better.

Lol, the context has to be understood. On the one hand you have the likes of Misbah, Hafeez, Azhar Ali complaining to the PM about the hardships being faced by domestic cricketers, unemployment, low pays and lol on the other hand you have Ehsan Mani, Wasim Khan lobbying the PM for support in signing a $200 million agreement with PTV Sports. Naturally the PM was going to react, if the PCB is getting $200 million over the next 3 years, what do you need departments for then and what is this rubbish about domestic players struggling

 

[shamaan]

Apparently the Prime Minister IK has said no to the revival of departmental cricket and has told the players to trust the new system and to give it time before it becomes financially stable

Yes correct hard stance by imran

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Lol, the context has to be understood. On the one hand you have the likes of Misbah, Hafeez, Azhar Ali complaining to the PM about the hardships being faced by domestic cricketers, unemployment, low pays and lol on the other hand you have Ehsan Mani, Wasim Khan lobbying the PM for support in signing a $200 million agreement with PTV Sports. Naturally the PM was going to react, if the PCB is getting $200 million over the next 3 years, what do you need departments for then and what is this rubbish about domestic players struggling

They are lobbying for cricketers not in the domestic setup as well who have lost jobs and are driving Ubers, Careems, struggling to make ends meet. I am a proponent of the 6-team regional system as it enhances quality but no doubt there is a need to keep departments in the loop so that talent doesn’t fall through the cracks. Many 20-23 year olds who are still in the developing phase can’t find employment and prove themselves, while 16 year olds are dissuaded from a cricket career by their parents because of how few job opportunities there might be (either get a domestic contract or go bust).

What is needed right now is a strengthening of the city cricket associations to give all of these cricketers a platform to play, and a means of earning an income. I strongly believe that departments can be involved at the city level to back teams and provide a funding injection to city-level cricketers.

I also believe there is room for innovation by the PCB — ramadan tournaments are exceedingly popular and there is no reason the PCB can’t monetize this as well.

Wasim Khan and Ehsan Mani are leading Pakistan cricket in a great direction and I hope they continue to make bold decisions. 2019-2021 will be known as the years that Pakistan cricket was cleaned up. Mark these words and recall them 10 years from now.

 

[Savak]

They are lobbying for cricketers not in the domestic setup as well who have lost jobs and are driving Ubers, Careems, struggling to make ends meet. I am a proponent of the 6-team regional system as it enhances quality but no doubt there is a need to keep departments in the loop so that talent doesn’t fall through the cracks. Many 20-23 year olds who are still in the developing phase can’t find employment and prove themselves, while 16 year olds are dissuaded from a cricket career by their parents because of how few job opportunities there might be (either get a domestic contract or go bust).

What is needed right now is a strengthening of the city cricket associations to give all of these cricketers a platform to play, and a means of earning an income. I strongly believe that departments can be involved at the city level to back teams and provide a funding injection to city-level cricketers.

I also believe there is room for innovation by the PCB — ramadan tournaments are exceedingly popular and there is no reason the PCB can’t monetize this as well.

Wasim Khan and Ehsan Mani are leading Pakistan cricket in a great direction and I hope they continue to make bold decisions. 2019-2021 will be known as the years that Pakistan cricket was cleaned up. Mark these words and recall them 10 years from now.

The PCB has given the departments various options i.e. to sponsor a regional side. If they insist on playing their departmental tournaments, the PCB hasn't forbidden them but they will need to play and host them on their own dime and the tournaments will not be given first class domestic status anymore. It is basically going to be treated like club cricket, ramzan cricket.

If these departments were financially supporting Pakistan Cricket to such a significant extent then surely then can afford to sponsor the regional sides, host their own tournament without having to let go of cricketers. For far too long they had been allowed to hold the PCB and Pakistan Cricket to ransom and it needed a Pakistani Cricketer to become the Prime Minister to stand up to them.

 

[Markhor]

Misbah hafeez and azhar rlly thought they could change Imrans mind on this lmao. Regional cricket is here to stay. Way better.

The hilarious thing is Azhar, Hafeez and Misbah are the posterboys of why Pakistan's domestic cricket needed to be reformed in the first place ! They've overseen an era of mediocrity.

I sympathise with the job losses argument to a point. Obviously it's sad for anyone to lose a job, but in the old system you had uncles like Saad Altaf carrying a pot belly and topping the charts. There were far too many mediocre players stuck in their comfort zones.

Regarding salaries, they've a stronger point. However they should look at the facts. In the last season of departmental cricket - from the 160 departmental players, 57 played no more than 2 FC games. So an elite of around only 100 cricketers truly thrived in departmental cricket !

Meanwhile the regional cricketers suffered.

 

[CleverSir]

The hilarious thing is Azhar, Hafeez and Misbah are the posterboys of why Pakistan's domestic cricket needed to be reformed in the first place ! They've overseen an era of mediocrity.

I sympathise with the job losses argument to a point. Obviously it's sad for anyone to lose a job, but in the old system you had uncles like Saad Altaf carrying a pot belly and topping the charts. There were far too many mediocre players stuck in their comfort zones.

Regarding salaries, they've a stronger point. However they should look at the facts. In the last season of departmental cricket - from the 160 departmental players, 57 played no more than 2 FC games. So an elite of around only 100 cricketers truly thrived in departmental cricket !

Meanwhile the regional cricketers suffered.

Exactly this, quality over quantity. Also, just to add, the current PCB admin has shown that they are willing to spend money on players. They've increased payouts for this season. If they continue to get monetary growth they'll increase domestic players earnings. In the long term, this is better for Pakistan cricket.

 

[shah_1]

Indian domestic cricketers earning that don't play IPL and international cricket.


According to this article

https://cricket.yahoo.net/news/earnings-indian-domestic-cricketers-060308012

If they play all matches that includes match fee and benevolent fund then it equals to 25 lacs indian rupees = 63 lacs Pakistani rupees. Our average earning is around 23-24 lacs, it needs to get close to 40 lacs but you have to understand that BCCI earns billions of $.
[MENTION=2501]Savak[/MENTION]

 

[shah_1]

Indian dometic teams were 28 teams before 9 team being added two years ago. 28 teams for 1.3 billions population yet these critics cry about 6 teams for a population of 220 million. The nine teams that were addeded make up 1% of Indian population I think.

The point I am trying to make is that India is not a welfare state like England and Australia(critics have been harping about this point) yet India have done so well in the regional system These Indian domestic salaries have recently been increased, and they produced Dhoni, Kohli and Rohit Sharma before the money pumped in the domestic cricket.

These are lame excuses by the supporters of department cricket.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Indian dometic teams were 28 teams before 9 team being added two years ago. 28 teams for 1.3 billions population yet these critics cry about 6 teams for a population of 220 million. The nine teams that were addeded make up 1% of Indian population I think.

The point I am trying to make is that India is not a welfare state like England and Australia(critics have been harping about this point) yet India have done so well in the regional system These Indian domestic salaries have recently been increased, and they produced Dhoni, Kohli and Rohit Sharma before the money pumped in the domestic cricket.

These are lame excuses by the supporters of department cricket.

Difference is the batting culture and batting maidaans and batting academies. 10 year olds can bat with better techniques than Pakistani 16 year olds. Had nothing to do with the first class system. If India did not have a batting culture, limiting the pool from 28 to 14 would be a good move.

 

[Savak]

Indian domestic cricketers earning that don't play IPL and international cricket.


According to this article

https://cricket.yahoo.net/news/earnings-indian-domestic-cricketers-060308012

If they play all matches that includes match fee and benevolent fund then it equals to 25 lacs indian rupees = 63 lacs Pakistani rupees. Our average earning is around 23-24 lacs, it needs to get close to 40 lacs but you have to understand that BCCI earns billions of $.
[MENTION=2501]Savak[/MENTION]

With $200 million in the kitty over the next 3 years, surely the PCB can do better on this now.