Regional and District Cricket Associations and Departments/Service Organisations restored

[MenInG]

Mr Najam Sethi chaired the second meeting of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Management Committee at the National High Performance Centre on Saturday. The following are the key decisions taken at the meeting:

Regional Cricket Associations and Departments

The PCB Management Committee held an extensive discussion on the restoration of the Regional and District Cricket Associations and Departments/Service Organisations in line with the PCB Constitution 2014.

Following detailed discussions, it was announced Regional and District Cricket Associations and Departments/Service Organisations stand restored and a strategic plan will now be prepared to include them formally in the domestic cricket structure, including participation in the PCB Board of Governors in due course.

PCB Committees:

The Management Committee approved the constitution of 12 PCB Committees and agreed that their compositions will be announced in due course.

The following committees will be constituted: Domestic Restructuring Committee, Domestic Restoration Committee for Region, Department Cricket Restoration Committee, NHPC Remodeling Committee, Restructuring of Women’s Cricket Committee, Cricket Infrastructure Committee, Audit Committee, Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee, Human Resource Committee, Legal Affairs Committee, National Selection Committees and Benevolent Fund Committee

Other matters:

· The PCB Management Committee confirmed that it will honour and fulfil all Domestic Player Contracts, which are valid until August 2023.

· The PCB Management Committee, as part of its strategy to continue to invest in women’s cricket, expressed its enthusiasm and commitment to launch The Women’s League, which has been renamed as Pakistan Women’s League.

· The PCB Management Committee agreed to discontinue the Pakistan Junior League. However, to ensure there is a pathway for the high-performing teenagers and the country continues to produce talented cricketers across all age gaps, it was agreed to revive junior series on a home and away basis. It was also agreed to hold discussions with the HBL Pakistan Super League franchises to include an Under-19 player under their Emerging Categories in the playing line-ups.

 

[Usman Chadda]

MashaAllah committees everywhere. None of these ‘committees’ will lead to anything fruitful, just some old men trying to make a quick buck on the PCB’s expenses.

 

[mazkhan]

Its good the old system is being revived

But the main problem is the pitches

Improve the pitches in domestic and intl games and try to make the wickets with more pace and bounce.

I think the wickets against South africa had the right balance and worked well

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan's largest charity project comes alive.

 

[Saj]

This was a priority once the new PCB regime were brought in and was always on the cards.

 

[shah_1]

6 teams or 16 or 100 teams is useless unless the foundation is weak. Our pathway is system isn't good enough atm, players development is non-existence. The quality of cricket infrastructure in Pakistan is abysmal. Something isn't right when we have produced only one Babar that can bat well in all three formats in last 20 years.

We aren't producing enough talent with the old and new system, that can compete with other international talent. Najam Sethi or anyone else needs to dig deeper to find the rot, and fix it. The cosmetic change will serve to please the media. Wasim Khan was very good at it, did little for the enhancing the infrastructure in Pakistan, and there was no improvement in NHPC apart from name change(hired inexperience and incompetent coaches)

 

[RyanRyan10]

Do teams like Khan Research Laboratories, SUI Gas Pipelines have any supporters?

 

[Bewal Express]

Do teams like Khan Research Laboratories, SUI Gas Pipelines have any supporters?

Yes, some ex players, some current players, along with the old crooks like Sethi and Sheikh.

 

[mazkhan]

I don't know why people expect our cricket insfastructure and institution to be like a western country when every institution in our country is bankrupt corrupt and incompetent .

More important things like health and educatio don't function so who cares about cricket.

The only functioning institution is our military and even that is now coming apart thanks to bajwa and the inqalabi fasadis like pti, ptm, balochis , and ttp and infiltrated Afghans.

 

[Ami]

Purana Pakistan.

 

[ArabKnight]

Having more teams is very much a positive. It allows for more players to play Domestic Cricket.

 

[ahmadharis1]

I really wish we could just stick with one domestic setup for like 10 years and see the results. I really think the 6-team format was perfect and would have yielded great results given a fair length of time.

 

[ElRaja]

I really wish we could just stick with one domestic setup for like 10 years and see the results. I really think the 6-team format was perfect and would have yielded great results given a fair length of time.

we stuck with the old regional/departmental structure for a very long time, and it worked well as long as cricket was primarily a semi-professional sport. but it failed miserably once the sport got professionalized and failed to produce a single world-class cricketer for a ten-year stretch between Mohammad amir and babar azam.

 

[Bewal Express]

Having more teams is very much a positive. It allows for more players to play Domestic Cricket.

Who benefits with lots of club players playing in FC cricket? Does the quality of FC cricket improve?

 

[Bewal Express]

The majority of the depts are loss making state entitties that are living off borrowed money and are practically insolvent as the PK state is insolvent- with that in mind why would they even look to run a cricket dept when they are totally useless in their primary business

 

[Babeikh]

Departmental cricket is a farce, a bore and a disgrace to see it back - classic example of corruption. The only benefit it provides is jobs for middle aged has beens and useless nobodies. This should be literally the first thing the next PCB regime abolish and next time it should be done in a way to make it impossible to bring back next time there is change in PCB.

16 regions in the QEA Trophy is far too many unless it is being split into 2 divisions in which case it is fine.

 

[MenInG]

I really wish we could just stick with one domestic setup for like 10 years and see the results. I really think the 6-team format was perfect and would have yielded great results given a fair length of time.

Had to be done to show that the new regime has work to do.

Fact is that being a politically appointed regime, they are playing to the galleries like any politician would do. You give enough money to people then they will vote for you. Who cares about the future? Just make sure you have enough happy and well-fed faces around you and will be well.

 

[MenInG]

As per a media report:

Payments to domestic cricketers will start tomorrow (Monday).

According to sources, the management committee has completed the task of paying the arrears of domestic cricketers on a priority basis.

Domestic cricketers will be paid four months' compensation in the first phase. After four months of payment, compensation will be paid every month.

In the current season, the monthly contract amount has not been paid to the domestic cricketers. The management committee decided to make all the payments as per the agreement immediately.

 

[Markhor]

Departmental cricket is a farce, a bore and a disgrace to see it back - classic example of corruption. The only benefit it provides is jobs for middle aged has beens and useless nobodies. This should be literally the first thing the next PCB regime abolish and next time it should be done in a way to make it impossible to bring back next time there is change in PCB.

16 regions in the QEA Trophy is far too many unless it is being split into 2 divisions in which case it is fine.

Agreed. There's one ray of hope however. The dire economic situation and likely change of government this year means the departments themselves may not wish to come back.

 

[Bewal Express]

When these Depts can't even run their own business, why would any sane person put the future of its main Sport of the country in their hands.

 

[shah_1]

As per a media report:

Payments to domestic cricketers will start tomorrow (Monday).

According to sources, the management committee has completed the task of paying the arrears of domestic cricketers on a priority basis.

Domestic cricketers will be paid four months' compensation in the first phase. After four months of payment, compensation will be paid every month.

In the current season, the monthly contract amount has not been paid to the domestic cricketers. The management committee decided to make all the payments as per the agreement immediately.

LOL Ramiz Raja talks about respect for cricketers, yet this dictator didn't pay domestic cricketer their salaries on time. Allah ney Sahi insaaf kiya

 

[shah_1]

When these Depts can't even run their own business, why would any sane person put the future of its main Sport of the country in their hands.

Regions and departments will have separate tournaments

 

[Bewal Express]

Regions and departments will have separate tournaments

And where will the better players play. That should tell you everything you need. The Dept system was total rubbish, played for no end and watched by no one. It should shows the stupidity of the budday that they think a system that never worked in the past will work in 2023.

 

[shah_1]

And where will the better players play. That should tell you everything you need. The Dept system was total rubbish, played for no end and watched by no one. It should shows the stupidity of the budday that they think a system that never worked in the past will work in 2023.

Players will play in both tournaments as it wouldn't run in parallel.

 

[Bewal Express]

Players will play in both tournaments as it wouldn't run in parallel.

We will wait until the schedule comes out.

 

[MenInG]

Mr Najam Sethi, the Chair of the PCB Management Committee, on Monday formally approved notifications for the restoration of Departments/Services Organisations, Regions and District/Zonal Cricket Associations under the PCB Constitution 2014.

The issuance of the notifications mean 16 Regional Cricket Associations will now participate in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and eight departments will compete in the Patron’s Trophy during the 2023-24 season, beginning in August. In addition to these tournaments, Grade-II, 50-over and 20-over events will also be organised for the regional and departmental side during the 2023-24 domestic cricket season, details of which will be announced in due course.

The Departments/Services Organisation, Regions and District/Zonal Cricket Associations were replaced by the six Cricket and 90 City Cricket Associations in the PCB Constitution 2019, which was repealed in December 2022.

“In pursuance of Ministry’s notifications dated 22 December 2022 regarding repealing of Constitution of the Pakistan Cricket Board notified vide SRO 1045(1)/2019 dated 19 August 2019 and Ministry’s notification dated 22 December 2022 regarding restoration of the PCB Constitution 2014, the Management Committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board hereby formally announces the restoration of all Departments/Service Organisations, Regions and District/Zonal Cricket Association as recognised by the Board under the PCB Constitution 2014,” the notification said, adding: “and further actions will be taken in due course.”

Mr Najam Sethi: “I am pleased to confirm the formal restoration of Departments/Services Organisation, Regions and District/Zonal Cricket Associations under the PCB Constitution 2014.

“It is our endeavor, resolve and commitment to all our cricketers that we will provide them equal and fair opportunities to display their talent so that they can make their careers in the sport. This can only be achieved when we will expand our cricket canvas, which was unfortunately restricted and limited to a small number of cricketers and teams in 2019. This approach not only affected the livelihood of hundreds of cricketers and resulted in a talent drain, but also failed to highlight and produce cricketers with exceptional skills as in the past that, in turn, adversely impacted the standards, performances and rankings of our national sides in the international arena.

“Although we cannot undo the wrong policies of the past four seasons, what we can do is to quickly revert to our tried, tested and winning cricket model and structure so that the sport and cricketers can excel and thrive. We are making good progress in this regard and more announcements that are in the best interest of Pakistan cricket and our cricketers will be made in due course.”

 

[MenInG]

“Although we cannot undo the wrong policies of the past four seasons, what we can do is to quickly revert to our tried, tested and winning cricket model and structure so that the sport and cricketers can excel and thrive. We are making good progress in this regard and more announcements that are in the best interest of Pakistan cricket and our cricketers will be made in due course.”

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Department cricket has been a nursery of producing quality cricketers for Pakistan. This is indeed welcoming news - hope Pakistan cricket and cricketers benefit from it. <a href="https://t.co/5dyvQrAkJG">https://t.co/5dyvQrAkJG</a></p>— Ahmad Shahzad ���� (@iamAhmadshahzad) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamAhmadshahzad/status/1609953134821900289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alhamdulliah..Good initiative..Back to roots..So happy for the revival of Regional & departmental cricket</p>— Kamran Akmal (@KamiAkmal23) <a href="https://twitter.com/KamiAkmal23/status/1609948072347410432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Babeikh]

Kamran is happy because he will probably have a job guaranteed so he gets paid sitting around doing nothing

 

[MenInG]

PCB statement

Lahore, 4 December 2023:

Following the repeal of the PCB Constitution 2019, all positions created for the Cricket Associations and City Cricket Associations no longer exist. However, valuing and respecting the contributions made by them, the Pakistan Cricket Board, as a gesture of goodwill, has promised to look after these personnel in the month of January.

“It has been an extremely tough decision for the PCB regarding persons employed under the repealed PCB Constitution 2019, but we have to abide by the Law. That said, we will continue to look after these personnel in the month of January and assure them that when the new structure has been set-up and Regional, Divisional and Departmental cricket teams are up and running, we will try to absorb the relevant and most suitable personnel,” said a PCB spokesperson.

 

[u0sama]

I dont think due to economic condition any department will revive its team. 16 regions means players will at max get 50k contract per month and 16 regions will not earn revenue from youtube views, they just waste PCB funds on ghost projects. Will also see revival of 100 rs briyani on Lunch, 2nd class hostels for players.

 

[Savak]

Imran Khan's Cricketing Decisions have failed for Pakistan Cricket

- The 6 team regional structure didn't work commercially and even from a cricketing point of view our 3 home series defeats to Australia, England and now NZ have clearly shown that the players coming through are not really good enough.

- The end to dept cricket reduced the number of games and players available for Pakistan. Sudden injuries to Shaheen, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah showed Pakistan did not have any pacers available to replace them. The likes of Hasnain, Dhani, Shadab missed out on first class cricket because when the domestic 4 day tournament is under way, these players are busy with the international team in T20 and ODI ventures which means by the time Pakistan desperately needs them in the test side, these players are not ready due to insufficient 4 day cricket experience. A longer first class season might have addressed this problem. Our structure is not producing quality spinners for a while.

- The decision to have Mickey Arthur removed and replaced by Misbah and Waqar and then later by Saqlain Mushtaq. Horrible decisions in the end

- The decision to axe Sarfaraz and to impose Babar Azam as captain of Pakistan. Don't think any Pakistani captain has an atrocious captaincy record as Babar in test cricket

Will Imran Khan put his hand up and admit his decisions have turned out to be disasterous for Pakistan Cricket today?

 

[Markhor]

- The 6 team regional structure didn't work commercially and even from a cricketing point of view our 3 home series defeats to Australia, England and now NZ have clearly shown that the players coming through are not really good enough.

- The end to dept cricket reduced the number of games and players available for Pakistan. Sudden injuries to Shaheen, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah showed Pakistan did not have any pacers available to replace them. The likes of Hasnain, Dhani, Shadab missed out on first class cricket because when the domestic 4 day tournament is under way, these players are busy with the international team in T20 and ODI ventures which means by the time Pakistan desperately needs them in the test side, these players are not ready due to insufficient 4 day cricket experience. A longer first class season might have addressed this problem. Our structure is not producing quality spinners for a while.

- The decision to have Mickey Arthur removed and replaced by Misbah and Waqar and then later by Saqlain Mushtaq. Horrible decisions in the end

- The decision to axe Sarfaraz and to impose Babar Azam as captain of Pakistan. Don't think any Pakistani captain has an atrocious captaincy record as Babar in test cricket

Will Imran Khan put his hand up and admit his decisions have turned out to be disasterous for Pakistan Cricket today?

To be honest we weren't pulling up any trees under the departmental system either. We lost to SL and NZ in UAE. Drew a series to Zimbabwe etc.

Even under the old system the likes of Hasnain and Shadab weren't playing much FC cricket. The lack of A tours is killing us. India play much more A team cricket to bridge gap between Tests and domestic.

I agree the decisions to hire Misbah, Saqlain and Babar were disasters - although Babar wasn't too bad when Misbah was there as a check.

Once Ramiz gave him unchecked authority, Babar has been a total inept disaster.

 

[Savak]

Salman Butt in his Vlog mentioned that when he spoke to Wasim Khan regarding his reservations on the IK inspired domestic structure. Wasim Khan told him that he himself was not in favour of uprooting department cricket that ubruptly and certainly did not want to restrict the domestic teams to just 6 teams but his hands were tied as the order to have a six team structure was coming stubbornly from IK.

 

[MenInG]

LAHORE: As the new management of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has left the six Provincial Cricket Associations defunct, the umpires and scorers who officiated the matches of the Central Punjab Cricket Association Inter-school Championship in December last year in Lahore, are worried about the dues they have not received yet.

“The due amount is around Rs1 million but we are not getting any satisfactory replies from the officials of the Central Punjab Cricket Association, as to when they will make the payments,” the affected umpires and scorers said.

“We have received the news that the match officials, who supervised matches in other cities, coming under Central Punjab have received their payments from their respective Divisional Commissioner but in Lahore the Commissioner has not received any such message from Chief Secretary Punjab Abdullah Sumbal, who was also the president of the Central Punjab Cricket Association (CPCA),” they said.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2023

 

[MenInG]

While reinstating the services of its former regional coaches from Dec 26, the PCB is silent about the future of groundsmen and curators, whose services were also terminated along with reg*ional coaches in 2019, after the implementation of the new PCB constitution.

The letters have been received by the regional coaches concerned.

“We are pleased to inform you that you have been re-designated as Regional Head Coach with immediate effect. Other terms and conditions of your appointment contract shall remain the same,” the letter seen by Dawn said.

It may be mentioned here that along with the regional coaches, some 200 groundsmen and curators working with regions, had also lost their jobs when the PCB implemented the 2019 constitution, switching domestic cricket from regional to six provincial teams and abolishing departmental cricket that resulted in several hundred cricketers losing their jobs.

After the new government decided to restore the 2014 PCB constitution, regional and departmental cricket returned.

As the 2022-23 domestic season had already ended last week, there is no immediate assignment for these coaches in near fut*ure while the regional level office-bearers are yet to take charge.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2023

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure based on departments and regions will be restored by Feb 15, for which the interim Management Committee (MC) of the Pakistan Cricket Board has devised a plan besides preparing the schedule of activities starting with the national U-13 event, a PCB official told Dawn.

“The work on the domestic structure is in progress on a fast track. The PCB has received good response from several departments which have shown interest to restore their cricket teams; in this regard Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) has also announced that the trials to select its team will be held on Jan 24 in Islamabad,” Shakil Sheikh, one of the key members of the 14-member PCB Management Committee, exclusively told Dawn on Wednesday.

“Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Wapda and KRL have also contacted the PCB and are ready to restore their [cricket] teams. Moreover, there are strong chances that United Bank Limited (UBL) will also return to the game as their authorities have also shown enthusiasm to restore their cricket team, which they had abolished several years ago,” Shakil revealed.

“Overall, more than 25 departments are showing interest to restore their teams for Grade-I and Grade-II cricket.

“Furthermore, a proposal is being considered, to ask the departments to form their [own] under-19 teams. This will enable these departments to provide a professional platform to young cricketers which will help in producing more polished players for the national team in future,” said Shakil, the former head of the PCB Cricket Committee.

“All the [related] groundwork has been prepared and after PCB chief Najam Sethi returns home from the UAE, the old system under the PCB constitution of 2014 will be restored. All this will take [about] three weeks and most probably the basic job of the MC will be have been completed by Feb 15,” he added.

According to Shakil, in the new structure eight departments and as many regional teams would compete in first-class cricket while the remaining eight departments and regions would play Grade-II cricket.

Responding to a question regarding the fate of around 200 groundsmen and curators who lost their jobs when the province-based six-team domestic structure replaced regional and departmental cricket as the PCB implemented the new constitution on Aug 19, 2019, Shakil said with the restoration of the regional bodies, every region would get 15 employees from the PCB including groundsmen and curators.

“This will give a bigger chance to groundsmen and curators to regain their jobs as now they will have 16 regions to apply instead of only six province-based set-up,” he said.

While underlining that MC’s main job was to restore departmental and regional cricket, Shakil said the PCB had received encouraging reports that the number of players at the club level had increased remarkably as now they had more opportunities to earn money, he underlined.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2023

 

[Mamoon]

Salman Butt in his Vlog mentioned that when he spoke to Wasim Khan regarding his reservations on the IK inspired domestic structure. Wasim Khan told him that he himself was not in favour of uprooting department cricket that ubruptly and certainly did not want to restrict the domestic teams to just 6 teams but his hands were tied as the order to have a six team structure was coming stubbornly from IK.

This reinforces the argument that Wasim was a puppet who did not have the guts to take a stand & make his presence felt.

The domestic reforms was Imran’s decision & so was making Misbah coach & Babar captain. What was Wasim getting paid for? Such a weak & inept administrator.

ICC needs to ban PCB. This is unacceptable. There is a difference between political appointment (Wasim, Mani, Ramiz, Sethi etc. were all political appointments) & not giving the chairman/CEO autonomy to take their own decisions.

Ramiz was stronger than Wasim & Mani. Once he was on job he made sure that he took independent decisions & not take dictations from Imran. Sethi is also independent when it comes to decision-making.

It were only Mani & Wasim who didn’t have the courage & were happy to take orders as long as is kept them in the job.

 

[Major]

This reinforces the argument that Wasim was a puppet who did not have the guts to take a stand & make his presence felt.

The domestic reforms was Imran’s decision & so was making Misbah coach & Babar captain. What was Wasim getting paid for? Such a weak & inept administrator.

ICC needs to ban PCB. This is unacceptable. There is a difference between political appointment (Wasim, Mani, Ramiz, Sethi etc. were all political appointments) & not giving the chairman/CEO autonomy to take their own decisions.

Ramiz was stronger than Wasim & Mani. Once he was on job he made sure that he took independent decisions & not take dictations from Imran. Sethi is also independent when it comes to decision-making.

It were only Mani & Wasim who didn’t have the courage & were happy to take orders as long as is kept them in the job.

to be fair, everyone in the PCB had their hands tied when Imran Khan was pm. Misbah never wanted Babar as captain as he knew the guy was not up for it, yet Imran intervene and created problems for Misbah. The domestic structure was all imrans idea.

It was not just waseem alot of people couldnt do their job because of Imran.

Waseem benefitted the most though. One stint as the top guy in a cricket board, made him eligible to apply for ICC posts

 

[MenInG]

to be fair, everyone in the PCB had their hands tied when Imran Khan was pm. Misbah never wanted Babar as captain as he knew the guy was not up for it, yet Imran intervene and created problems for Misbah. The domestic structure was all imrans idea.

It was not just waseem alot of people couldnt do their job because of Imran.

Waseem benefitted the most though. One stint as the top guy in a cricket board, made him eligible to apply for ICC posts

Running PCB does not qualify you for anything!

Waseem Khan is very well respected around the world. Sethi would do well to get to that sort of respect.

 

[Major]

Running PCB does not qualify you for anything!

Waseem Khan is very well respected around the world. Sethi would do well to get to that sort of respect.

it does. At the end of the day PCB is consider a test member board and once you have worked there at top level you can pursue better jobs. Yes Waseem was working with ECB, but at PCB he got the CEO position. Now he was able to bag the General Manager post at ICC.

Same goes for coaches that look for a gig. Our issue is we want to hire well known names

 

[MenInG]

it does. At the end of the day PCB is consider a test member board and once you have worked there at top level you can pursue better jobs. Yes Waseem was working with ECB, but at PCB he got the CEO position. Now he was able to bag the General Manager post at ICC.

Same goes for coaches that look for a gig. Our issue is we want to hire well known names

OK so do you seriously think they will take a politician turned admin in an ICC Role?

 

[Xoib]

To be honest we weren't pulling up any trees under the departmental system either. We lost to SL and NZ in UAE. Drew a series to Zimbabwe etc.

Even under the old system the likes of Hasnain and Shadab weren't playing much FC cricket. The lack of A tours is killing us. India play much more A team cricket to bridge gap between Tests and domestic.

I agree the decisions to hire Misbah, Saqlain and Babar were disasters - although Babar wasn't too bad when Misbah was there as a check.

Once Ramiz gave him unchecked authority, Babar has been a total inept disaster.

Nah 6 teams is an issue especially givin the fact it dids not improve the quality as likes of Khurram Manzoor, Sohail Khan bully thier way in to a 6 team set-up based on seniority. Atleast with 16 teams setup some young talents are playing fc cricket albeit of a lower quality and are on selection radar. 2nd Xi performces dont give you the benifit as these are not counted as FC games.

Look at the pitiful number of young spinners playing fc games due to low number of teams though i agree its less number of A tours that is main reason for these undeveloped young players.

 

[Markhor]

Nah 6 teams is an issue especially givin the fact it dids not improve the quality as likes of Khurram Manzoor, Sohail Khan bully thier way in to a 6 team set-up based on seniority. Atleast with 16 teams setup some young talents are playing fc cricket albeit of a lower quality and are on selection radar. 2nd Xi performces dont give you the benifit as these are not counted as FC games.

Look at the pitiful number of young spinners playing fc games due to low number of teams though i agree its less number of A tours that is main reason for these undeveloped young players.

I'm not steadfast on 6 teams. I think there's a fair case to argue for 8-10 FC teams.

What I'm deadset against is going back to the hotchpotch system of regions and departments. No FC setup in the world, including our SC brethren, have this ridiculous system of banks and utilities owning cricket teams.

Our administrators are so petty and egotistical that they simply must uproot everything their predecessors did to show who's boss. Ramiz did this when foolishly firing the NHPC coaches, including several well credentialed coaches, and not naming any replacements.

It looks like these crooks are sending us back to square one.

 

[Major]

OK so do you seriously think they will take a politician turned admin in an ICC Role?

they will not. I get your point that someone like Sethi would not get such a position.

But you have to agree that Waseems career probably got fast tracked. No one knows for sure whether at ECB he would had gotten the top job or not

 

[MenInG]

they will not. I get your point that someone like Sethi would not get such a position.

But you have to agree that Waseems career probably got fast tracked. No one knows for sure whether at ECB he would had gotten the top job or not

Of course - one's last position on a CV does mean something.

But if I recall, he was on a good trajectory in England too.

 

[Savak]

They can introduce department cricket if they want but they need to keep regions and departmental tournaments seperate and not combine them.

 

[MenInG]

LAHORE-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee (MC) members Shakeel Shaikh, Nauman Butt and Haroon Rasheed met the cricket organisers from different parts of the country and discussed restoration of club cricket and cricket grounds across the country.

The club organisers met the PCB Management Committee members here at a local hotel and discussed the club cricket issues with them. They said that they had firm faith in Najam Sethi-led PCB Management Committee, saying like previous tenure, they will work harder to revive club cricket and cricket grounds and fully support club organizers to run the cricket nurseries and continue to produce future champions.

Speaking on the occasion, PCB Management Committee member Shakil Shaikh said: “We, under the dynamic leadership of Najam Sethi, will populate the playgrounds across the country while the issues of cricket organizers will be resolved on priority basis. We are here to promote cricket especially club cricket and we will soon spread the game to every corner of the country.

Media tycoon Mohsin Naqvi sworn in as Punjab caretaker CM
“In last four years, the infrastructure of cricket was destroyed, especially the club cricket. The cricket organizers were also ignored, that’s why they couldn’t produce a good number of cricket champions. But now a new era of Pakistan cricket is going to start as providing the best facilities to the cricketers and organisers will be our top priority,” Shakeel Sh added.

Sharing his views, PCB Management Committee member Nauman Butt said: “We are here to do the best for Pakistan cricket and organizers, who suffered enormous damage in the past. We will work on increasing the number of competitions to increase opportunities for our youth, who will not only showcase their prowess but also earn places in the first-class and national teams. Now the dream of every talented cricketer will come true and in a short span of time, Pakistan team will get fresh faces, who will impress the world with their talent.”

https://www.nation.com.pk/23-Jan-20...o-take-club-cricket-to-new-heights-once-again

 

[Bewal Express]

Departments that can't run their businesses will know run our FC cricket.

 

[MenInG]

 

[MenInG]

The Pakistan Cricket Board has formally written to 27 leading departments, seeking their interest in participating in the PCB Domestic Cricket Season 2023-24, which will start in August.

The letters were dispatched to the departments on behalf of Mr Najam Sethi, Chair of the PCB Management Committee, in accordance with the PCB Constitution 2014 and on the specific instructions of PCB’s Patron, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is keen to see return of the department to play their integral role in the growth and development of Pakistan cricket.

In the letters, the PCB has not only invited the departments to confirm their participation in the upcoming season at their earliest convenience that can help them prepare the season’s calendar, but have also encouraged to set up strong cricket sides, assuring them maximum coverage and publicity through the traditional and new media.

Some of the prominent departments, who have been sent letters for participation in the PCB Domestic Season 2023, include: Ghani Glass, Income Tax, K-Electric, Karachi Port Trust, Khan Research Laboratory, National Bank of Pakistan, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Omar Associates, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan International Airlines, Port Qasim Authority, Pakistan Television Corporation, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Pakistan Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL).

 

[Markhor]

The Pakistan Cricket Board has formally written to 27 leading departments, seeking their interest in participating in the PCB Domestic Cricket Season 2023-24, which will start in August.

The letters were dispatched to the departments on behalf of Mr Najam Sethi, Chair of the PCB Management Committee, in accordance with the PCB Constitution 2014 and on the specific instructions of PCB’s Patron, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is keen to see return of the department to play their integral role in the growth and development of Pakistan cricket.

In the letters, the PCB has not only invited the departments to confirm their participation in the upcoming season at their earliest convenience that can help them prepare the season’s calendar, but have also encouraged to set up strong cricket sides, assuring them maximum coverage and publicity through the traditional and new media.

Some of the prominent departments, who have been sent letters for participation in the PCB Domestic Season 2023, include: Ghani Glass, Income Tax, K-Electric, Karachi Port Trust, Khan Research Laboratory, National Bank of Pakistan, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Omar Associates, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan International Airlines, Port Qasim Authority, Pakistan Television Corporation, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Pakistan Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL).

Cannot wait for the iconic clash between Ghani Glass vs Income Tax !

Can they book the MCG for this fixture ?

 

[JibranAnsari]

Lol.

Welcome to pot bellies.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Cannot wait for the iconic clash between Ghani Glass vs Income Tax !

Can they book the MCG for this fixture ?

Book me a ticket in advance.

 

[MenInG]

Cannot wait for the iconic clash between Ghani Glass vs Income Tax !

Can they book the MCG for this fixture ?

I can see a lot of 'izzat bachao' type conversations happening behind the scenes to ensure these teams put an XI up to help out the current Admin.

 

[Babeikh]

These departments would be foolish to invest money in starting teams now given there is an election in a few months and if IK wins, the entire thing will be thrown out again.

 

[Babeikh]

Though if I am being honest, I really cannot wait until the Sui derby.

If Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) v Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) doesn't get your pulse racing then you are not alive, as far as I am concerned.

 

[Savak]

If they want to bring back the departments then keep the departmental tournaments separate from the regional tournaments, don't mix the two together

 

[MenInG]

If they want to bring back the departments then keep the departmental tournaments separate from the regional tournaments, don't mix the two together

They will do what will get them kudos in the media #politics

So more cricketers (deserving or not is irrelevant) they can get on some corporate payroll the better.

 

[MenInG]

Kamran Akmal:

"Departmental teams have given Pakistan so many great players, but we stopped that and have just six domestic teams. If this experiment had been correct, then Fawad Alam wouldn't have had to wait 11 years to make a comeback. We are finding it difficult to form one proper team."

 

[moghul]

Departments coming back , RIP Pak cricket.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BIG NEWS - Jobs For Professional Cricketers & Financial Security! <br>In all, 43 departments, including Ist Class & Grade-2 deptts which were playing departmental cricket in 2018, have consented/applied for participation in departmental tournaments under the auspices of PCB.…</p>— Shakil Shaikh (@shakilsh58) <a href="https://twitter.com/shakilsh58/status/1648577021583458304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[mazkhan]

Excellent decision

Sense has prevailed

Let's hope Pakistan cricket can be rescued from the damage done by Imran Khan and his ridiculous Australian idea and then appoint the clown commentator who ruined the pitches and was proposing the ridiculous conception of drop in pitches .

 

[MenInG]

You know things are bad when Shakil Shaikh announces major decisions before PCB can do that officially.

As for the decision itself, this will be the largest sports-based charity project the world has seen.

 

[JattMaula]

You know things are bad when Shakil Shaikh announces major decisions before PCB can do that officially.

As for the decision itself, this will be the largest sports-based charity project the world has seen.

I think we can count this in social responsibility of businesses.

Cricket is the second of only two cultural things common amongst almost all Pakistanis. Keeping it alive and thriving should be responsibility of all Pakistanis including corporates.

 

[Fenrir]

Pakistan always had rubbish pitches.Rawalpindi was the only pitch which had little bit of pace and bounce.Pakistan makes flat pitches because it is scared of losing.On lively pitches Pakistani batsmen can’t score.The Australian idea is not ridiculous.Australia has been a formidable team because it’s domestic cricket is of a very high standard.An Australian state team can easily beat Pakistan.Departmental cricket will provide jobs for mediocre cricketers.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great news for cricketers.. well done <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealPCB</a> and all the departments &#55358;&#56626;&#55358;&#56626; <a href="https://t.co/nt0ZkIfnF2">https://t.co/nt0ZkIfnF2</a></p>— Azhar Ali (@AzharAli_) <a href="https://twitter.com/AzharAli_/status/1648683152771100672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Hextro]

Notice how the justification for this decision is that it will provide jobs to cricketers and not about the quality of cricket. So far they haven't given a single justification for how departmental cricket will improve overall cricket in this country.

It's the government's responsibility to provide jobs, not the PCB's.

Reeks of corruption.

 

[Bewal Express]

The majority of state owned enterprises lose money for fun and now they have decided to run sports teams. Surely get your own house in order

 

[Fenrir]

We are going to have 43 departmental teams.Most people can’t more than 3 or 4 teams.Why stop at 43.Why not have 143 teams.The more teams the more jobs for the cricketers,right?

 

[moghul]

On average , each match will be watched by a stray dog and a security guy.

 

[Markhor]

Well there goes my interest in FC cricket. Corruption Zindabad.

 

[MenInG]

Well there goes my interest in FC cricket. Corruption Zindabad.

You can tell from the reactions of players who had nothing much to offer to Pakistan cricket why this is a good thing for them.

Mediocrity will rule the roost.

 

[MenInG]

Lahore: The management committee of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has called a meeting on June 12 for the new domestic cricket structure.

According to media reports, the domestic cricket structure will be discussed with the stakeholders in the meeting, while the first-class cricket, Pakistan Cup and T20 format events will also come under discussion.

It is reported that meeting will brief the stakeholders on the domestic cricket structure, and the procedures regarding the departments will also be decided in the meeting.

Apart from this, the role of departments in the domestic cricket structure will be discussed.

Domestic cricket structure will include regional teams along with departmental teams this year.

GNN

 

[Babeikh]

On average , each match will be watched by a stray dog and a security guy.

There will be a chipkali somewhere as well I am sure

 

[MenInG]

Representatives of leading departments met with the PCB management at the NCA on Monday in which they expressed keen interest in the 2023-24 domestic cricket season and promised complete support and cooperation

 

[Fenrir]

Pakistan will win ODI cup and it will beat all SENA countries in their backyards because of the department system has been restored.

 

[Rana]

Pakistan will win ODI cup and it will beat all SENA countries in their backyards because of the department system has been restored.

InshaAllah we can avoid 0-3 at home as well against England next time

 

[Fenrir]

InshaAllah we can avoid 0-3 at home as well against England next time

I was being sarcastic.

 

[MenInG]

The Pakistan Cricket Board today announced its panel of match officials for the expanded 2023-24 cricket season, which will see the return of regional and departmental cricket after four years, thus, substantially increasing the number of matches. Ninety-seven First XI matches were held in the 2022-23 cricket season alone, but following the restoration of the PCB Constitution 2014, around 200 First XI matches will be held in the 2023-24 season.

To cater for the enhanced requirement and following an annual appraisal process, the PCB has increased the number of match officials in each category. This will provide more opportunities to the match officials under the current system and also increases the earning chances after the PCB decided to increase the monthly retainers of the elite and supplementary panel by 20 per cent.

Additionally, the PCB has also increased match fees, daily allowances and retirement benefits of the match officials by 20 per cent.

In the elite panel of match referees, the PCB has added seven officials to raise the tally to 13. The seven new officials, who have been promoted, are: Aleem Khan Moosa, Athar Laiq, Bilal Khiljee, Kamran Chaudhry, Khalid Jamshed, Mohammad Aslam and Sohail Idrees.

Similarly, and envisaging eight first-class matches will run concurrently, the PCB had increased the pool of elite umpires from 14 to 23. The nine match officials, who have been promoted from the supplementary to elite panel are: Abdul Moqeet, Aslam Bareach, Farooq Ali Khan, Ghulam Sarwar, Imranullah Aslam, Kashif Sohail, Majid Hussain, Qaiser Khan and Zulfiqar Jan.

In the supplementary panel, which will be involved in non-first-class and pathways cricket matches but will also be available to cover for the elite match officials in First XI matches, the PCB has promoted nine match referees. This includes Saman Zulfiqar, who becomes the first women’s match referee to rise to this level. Others are: Abu-al-Hasnat Rao, Allah Ditto, Fazal Akbar Shah, Ghulam Mustafa, Inamullah Khan, Muhammad Amiruddin Ansari, Samiul Haq and Sohail Khan.

Meanwhile, the PCB has also confirmed women’s and international panel of match officials.

The women’s panel of umpires includes, Afia Amin, Humairah Farah, Nazia Nazir, Riffat Mustafa, Sabahat Rasheed, Saleema Imtiaz and Shakila Rafiq, while the international panel of match officials is Aleem Dar, Asif Yaqoob, Rashid Riaz Waqar, Faisal Khan Afridi (all umpires), Muhammad Javed Malik (Multan) and Ali Naqvi (both match referees).

The PCB group that reviewed the match officials’ last season’s performances and decided on the 2023-24 panel included: Shakil Ahmed Shaikh (Chair – Domestic Restructuring Committee), Aizad Syed (Acting Director – Academies), Haroon Rashid (Chair - Selection Committee and Acting Director – Domestic Cricket), Saqib Irfan (Senior Manager – Domestic cricket), Bilal Qureshi (Manager – Umpires & Referees) and Abdul Hameed (Assistant Manager – Umpires and Referee).

PCB PANEL OF MATCH OFFICIALS 2023-24

PCB Elite Panel of Match Referees (13) - Aleem Khan Moosa (Karachi), Ali Naqvi (Lahore), Athar Laiq (Karachi), Bilal Moinul Haq Khiljee (Lahore), Iftikhar Ahmed (Karachi), Kamran Chaudhry (Lahore), Khalid Jamshed (Lahore), Muhammad Anees (Lahore), Muhammad Aslam (Quetta), Muhammad Iqbal Sheikh (Hyderabad), Muhammad Javed Malik (Multan), Nadeem Arshad (Faisalabad) and Sohail Idrees (Lahore)

PCB Elite Panel of Umpires (23) - Abdul Moqeet (Lahore), Aleem Dar (Lahore), Aley Haider (Karachi), Asif Yaqoob (Islamabad), Aslam Bareach (Quetta), Faisal Khan Afridi (Sargodha), Farooq Ali Khan (Abbottabad), Ghulam Sarwar (Sibi), Imran Jawed (Karachi), Imranullah Aslam (Bahawalpur), Kashif Sohail (Khanewal), Majid Hussain (AJK), Muhammad Asif (Lahore), Muhammad Sajid (Charsadda), Nasir Hussain (Lahore), Qaiser Khan (Lahore), Rashid Riaz Waqar (Lahore), Saqib Khan (Abbottabad), Shozab Raza (Lahore), Syed Imtiaz Iqbal (Karachi), Tariq Rasheed (Lahore), Waleed Yaqub (Lahore) and Zulfiqar Jan (Charsadda)

PCB Supplementary Panel of Match Referees (11) - Abu-al-Hasnat Rao (Lahore), Ahmer Saeed (Karachi), Ali Gohar (Karachi), Allah Ditto (Islamabad), Fazal Akbar Shah (Peshawar), Ghulam Mustafa (Kasur), Inamullah Khan (Lahore), Muhammad Amiruddin Ansari (Karachi), Saman Zulfiqar (Sheikhupura), Samiul Haq (Faisalabad) and Sohail Khan (Lahore)

PCB Supplementary Panel of Umpires (28) - Abdul Karim (Naseerabad), Aftab Hussain Gillani (Bahawalpur), Ahmed Nadeem (Peshawar), Ahmed Shahab (Lahore), Aqeel Aadil Khan (Karachi), Asif Farooq Awan (Gujranwala), Dilshad Ali (Multan), Haroon Malik (Sargodha), Hashim Ali (Lodhran), Hassan Mahmood (Lahore), Irfan Haider (Islamabad), Kamran Khalil (Lahore), Khalid Mehmood Snr. (Karachi), Mir Dad (Islamabad), Muhammad Basit (Lahore), Muhammad Fayyaz (Peshawar), Muhammad Imran (Sargodha), Muhammad Irfan Dilshad (Lahore), Muhammad Kaleem (Lahore), Muhammad Waqas (Lahore), Qaiser Waheed (Lahore), Rafiq Ahmad (Dadu), Rana Muhammad Arshad (Faisalabad), Raza Asghar (Sheikhupura), Saleem Butt (Rawalpindi), Sultan Mahmood (Loralai), Syed Fahim Ahmed Bukhari (Karachi) and Waqar Ahmed (Islamabad)

PCB Development Panel of Umpires (40) - Aamer Atta (DG Khan), Abdul Qayoom (Karachi), Abdul Wasay (Kohat), Abrar Ahmed (Kasur), Adnan Rashid (Lahore), Ajmal Khan (Swat), Akhtar Ali (Karachi), Anser Mahmood (Pattoki), Asim Alvi (Karachi), Farooq Anwar Bajwa (Faisalabad), Farooq Jan (Charsadda), Ghayyur Hussain (Peshawar), Hameed Khan (Quetta), Hidayatullah (Pishin), Jaffar Hussain (Peshawar), Jamshid Hussain (Peshawar), Khalid Mahmood Jnr. (Quetta), Khalil Ahmad Siddiqi (Kasur), Maqbool Ahmed (Faisalabad), Mesam Turabi (Gujjar Khan), Muhammad Aamir Sharif (Kohat), Muhammad Arif (DI Khan), Muhammad Yousaf (DG Khan), Mumtaz Ali (Loralai), Munir Ahmed (Kasur), Naik Muhammad (Kohat), Nasar Khan (Mardan), Naseer Ahmed (Chakwal), Naushad Khan (Peshawar), Naveed Khan (Nowshera), Noor ul Hakam (Buner), Raweed Khan (Charsadda), Sagheer Ahmed (Lahore), Saifullah Khan (Sargodha), Shahid Qayyum (Faisalabad), Shamim Ansari (Karachi), Sohail Khan (Charssada), Sohail Zaman Khattak (Peshawar), , Waqas Zeb (Lahore) and Zeeshan Arif (Mirpur, AJK)

PCB Women’s Panel of Umpires (7) - Afia Amin (Lahore), Humairah Farah (Lahore), Nazia Nazir (Lahore), Riffat Mustafa (Kasur), Sabahat Rasheed (Lahore), Saleema Imtiaz (Karachi) and Shakila Rafiq (Kasur)

ICC International Panel of Match Officials (6) - Aleem Dar (Lahore), Asif Yaqoob (Islamabad), Rashid Riaz Waqar (Lahore), Faisal Khan Afridi (Sargodha) (all umpires); Muhammad Javed Malik (Multan) and Ali Naqvi (Lahore) (both match referees)