Crowds:
Cannot overstate the importance of crowds. Apart from the lack of skills that our players generally have, the lack of mental toughness is even more alarming. Our cricketers cannot even withstand the sight of pressure let alone being under the strain of it. The only way a young 19 or 20 year old is going to cope with pressure is when he's being asked to defend 8 runs off the last over with a full capacity crowd either supporting him or wanting him to crack. Same goes for the batsman when he's asked to score 10 off the last over. Playing in difficult situations under big crowds is the only way a player learns how to cope with pressure. Not just by playing 50 Test matches.
Now how to attract crowds? First of all, free entry is a given (I'm sure that's the case with the T20 right now. If not, then
). Secondly the PCB has to make it attractive to come to the stadium. This could mean PCB arranging some sort of concerts in the mid-innings break. Also if that means you have to get Aamir Liaqat to do an Inaam Ghar show, then by all means do it. Have a Catch a Crore scheme like they have in the PSL. Incentivize is the name of the game.
Flat pitches:
Although I'm a bowler and love seeing bowling pitches, in T20s the pitches in the domestic need to be as flat as they can be with absolutely nothing for the bowlers. Make the pitches so that the average score is 175. Families want to come and see both teams hitting sixes and scoring 175+ rather than seeing teams struggling to hit boundaries. Probably unfortunate for the game's connoisseurs but it is what it is. you have to cater to the general public.
TV Coverage:
You cannot possibly be televising your National T20 or National ODI/FC tournament around the country by using 1960s cameras. Ok, maybe you still don't have enough money to go full HD but at least get some decent camera quality and camera men so that it is bearable to watch on television. The interest is immediately dimmed once you switch on PTV sports and find a 360p type broadcast. Also get some good commentators on board. "Aur ball hawa mein gayi, fielder neechay aur dekhna hoga kay catch pakartay hain ya nahi" isn't going to fly in this day and age. Say what you may, but Ramiz, Waqar, Aamir, Bazid, Sikandar Bakht are still your best commentators. Use them. Also have somebody interview players during the innings. Make the watch worthwhile.
Team Reductions:
I know Pakistan has a huge cricketing player base and you need to accommodate players but you cannot have Lahore Blues and Lahore Whites and Karachi Whites and Karachi Blues etc. Lahore needs to have 1 team. Karachi has to have 1 team. If you want to be selected for Lahore or Karachi, you need to work hard and get into the XI. If I'm a resident of Lahore, who should i be supporting? Lahore Blues or Lahore Whites? Ridiculous. Regional associations need to conduct second tier tournaments to assess which are the best players that they want to take to the National T20. Have a pyramid cricketing tier.
Different Venues:
The National T20 has to be played at different venues and at least once on each team's ground. Right now I believe all matches are being played in Multan. When you have 25 matches played at a single venue, crowd fatigue also comes in. Crowds will come for 2-3 matches but then you will witness dwindling attendances. The way to counter this is to have a maximum of 3 matches at 1 venue.
I understand that these may be costly initiatives but then when you talk of improving the domestic standard, then these necessary costs will have to be undertaken. Also once crowds start coming in, you will see sponsorships increasing as well and this could all become self-financing. Sponsorships only come when companies see that a great number of people are watching. This is also necessary because you are also developing the mental character of young players who would be playing under pressure in front of crowds. A Lahore paceman trying to defend 10 off the last over at the National Stadium with a big crowd is better than a Lahore paceman trying to defend at Multan stadium in front of 2 crows and 1 dog. PSL has built this brand but unless it comes to Pakistan, you have to ensure that your domestic T20 tournament is your local PSL.
