What's the point of domestic cricket when PCB is least interested in marketing and creating hype?

[Abdullah719]

The commentators during the Pakistan Cup were taking the PCB to the cleaners on this very issue in the last few minutes.

As usual, there has been little to no marketing for the Pakistan Cup and there are sparse crowds in attendance.

Similarly, there is little effort from PCB in terms of making highlights and videos accessible on online platforms. They only do one thing: Upload the full match on YouTube. Now most people won't have the interest to watch an 8 hour replay of a match, but if they were to create highlight reels of the match or of specific innings or spells, they would generate lots of interest. Some YouTube channels do that, but they promptly get shut down due to copyright infringement.

The broadcast on PTV is hardly engaging. Poor commentary for the most part, low quality broadcast and a boring atmosphere due to the lack of any crowd. It's foolish to expect many viewers.

So no hype, no marketing, no videos. How are people expected to have any interest in domestic cricket besides cricket nerds?

 

[Markhor]

I don't when PTV will upgrade those 80s style cameras. At least have a good broadcast presentation for the viewers at home.

 

[Extra_Cover]

PTV needs a massive overhaul. Having said that the entire television network of Pakistan needs an overhaul.

From a business perspective there is a massive market to take. I certainly believe anyone who comes up with a hd topbox or satellite tv in Pakistan will rake in massive money. The demand for these digital boxes will be in abundance. People want to step away from cable operators. Once digital tv comes into play there would be more channels available for customers to choose from this would force PTV to up its game too and improve on its quality.

 

[MenInG]

because Domestic cricket starts and ends with PSL.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Imagine if we had a better broadcast coupled with enticing promotion to draw crowds. It would do a world of good for the players' motivation.

Nevertheless the crowds have been pretty decent considering the lack of advertising.

 

[unemployedgm]

I think these are all valid points. I think the PCB needs to make a decision on one structure. They also need to be more egalitarian in their approach to other formats. 4-Day Cricket is very important. But there seems to be no particular structure around 50 Over, 20 Over, or even shorter format cricket. These are all essential aspects of a larger structure.

Secondly, I disagree with the notion that the stadium was empty. Despite an incredibly poor stadium and meaningless cricket, there are actually people at the Pindi Stadium. It is not dissimilar to a game in Dubai. People in Pakistan are passionate about entertainment. As you rightly said, if we improved the broadcast, marketed the product, added much needed context, and improved the experience we would surely excite the fans.

 

[Abdullah719]

I think these are all valid points. I think the PCB needs to make a decision on one structure. They also need to be more egalitarian in their approach to other formats. 4-Day Cricket is very important. But there seems to be no particular structure around 50 Over, 20 Over, or even shorter format cricket. These are all essential aspects of a larger structure.

Secondly, I disagree with the notion that the stadium was empty. Despite an incredibly poor stadium and meaningless cricket, there are actually people at the Pindi Stadium. It is not dissimilar to a game in Dubai. People in Pakistan are passionate about entertainment. As you rightly said, if we improved the broadcast, marketed the product, added much needed context, and improved the experience we would surely excite the fans.

During the day time the crowd is very sparse. Towards the evening it gets better. For a domestic tournament, I think the turnout's been pretty decent actually considering the lack of marketing etc.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Better marketing is definitely needed plus new cameras for coverage.

 

[MenInG]

This tournament has the feeling of something which is on the calendar and must be done.

There is no attempt to make it special.

 

[Savak]

Lol what do you expect. The PSL is planned a year in advance and the schedule is finalized months in advance and private sector pumps money in. Domestic Cricket is held haphazardly at the very last minute and is treated as something to just get out of the way as a formality.

 

[MenInG]

Lol what do you expect. The PSL is planned a year in advance and the schedule is finalized months in advance and private sector pumps money in. Domestic Cricket is held haphazardly at the very last minute and is treated as something to just get out of the way as a formality.

Nothing to LOL about.

This tournament wasnt planned yesterday. This is an annual event. Lots of time to plan ahead.

 

[unemployedgm]

One of the big issues with this tournament and others like it that it represents a practice tournament. Like the National T20 Cup, this tournament was scheduled just prior to World Cup Selection to give the vast majority of domestic cricketers to showcase their talent. For the PCB to lift domestic cricket, there needs to be an actual Calendar and a Schedule of Events for each competition throughout the year. That calendar should remain the same each year. It seems simple and obvious but it is an area where our board has struggled.

 

[asifp]

Total lack of planning. I remember the day when Wills Cup used to be sold out!

There needs to be a proper calendar like the Premier League or the NFL. Only way to get attendance and sponsors

 

[Markhor]

One of the big issues with this tournament and others like it that it represents a practice tournament. Like the National T20 Cup, this tournament was scheduled just prior to World Cup Selection to give the vast majority of domestic cricketers to showcase their talent. For the PCB to lift domestic cricket, there needs to be an actual Calendar and a Schedule of Events for each competition throughout the year. That calendar should remain the same each year. It seems simple and obvious but it is an area where our board has struggled.

Pakistan Cup has taken place every April since 2016.

However you're right to state the haphazard rescheduling of the domestic tournaments has hurt interest from fans.

In the 1970s when Kardar was chairman, he ensured the domestic season began at fixed times and playing regulations were standardised. He arranged Pakistan’s domestic and international commitments three years in advance.

I'd prefer if the National T20 occurred in OCT before PSL draft, Pakistan Cup in NOV and QEA Trophy was organised between DEC-FEB, with the PSL being the finale of the Pakistani domestic season in MAR-APR.

 

[MMHS]

PCB is least interested for Domestics, even for selecting squad .... marketing & branding PCB's CS names 23 men squad just before the start of this tournament, which is supposed to be the premier List A Tournament of the country, and this year few players are protected form WC squad in the name of rest.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Anyone know how old that camera is

 

[Sher Khan]

These matches are actually free on weekdays. Yet, look how little the crowd is. Amazing.

 

[hadi123]

Someone with a business degree is needed

 

[unemployedgm]

Pakistan Cup has taken place every April since 2016.

However you're right to state the haphazard rescheduling of the domestic tournaments has hurt interest from fans.

In the 1970s when Kardar was chairman, he ensured the domestic season began at fixed times and playing regulations were standardised. He arranged Pakistan’s domestic and international commitments three years in advance.

I'd prefer if the National T20 occurred in OCT before PSL draft, Pakistan Cup in NOV and QEA Trophy was organised between DEC-FEB, with the PSL being the finale of the Pakistani domestic season in MAR-APR.

You’re right. That said, there is no rhyme or reason to it. It seems hastily arranged. As you rightly mentioned these schedules need to exist at least a year in advance.

I think fans are very intelligent. When you cater to there needs as the psl does, they come out and support it. When they are afterthoughts they don’t.

As Pakistanis we have a natural tendency to underestimate the intelligence of the public. We see the same in our movies.

 

[Saj]

You can change the chairman.
You can change the PM.
You can change the media director.

But there will always be lazy individials at PCB looking for short cuts and wanting to do the bare minimum.

I've written to PCB about this, let's see.

 

[Savak]

You can change the chairman.
You can change the PM.
You can change the media director.

But there will always be lazy individials at PCB looking for short cuts and wanting to do the bare minimum.

I've written to PCB about this, let's see.

These people are very well connected, so well connected that they have been able to survive in the PCB for a good 20-40 years even though so many Chairman's, CEO's with connections with the PM, President of the country have come and gone. This is the story of all institutions in Pakistan

 

[Sher Khan]

What can the PCB possibly do? Why would people come out to watch our domestic cricketers. It's not like we have shahid afridis playing in the Pakistan Cup. The tickets have been made free. The cup is being televised. What else can they possibly do?

 

[MenInG]

So seems some actions being taken

PCB have removed 2 people from their marketing department.

====



Lahore, 11 April 2019: The Pakistan Cricket Board today confirmed the departures of two senior officials from its Marketing Department.

Senior General Manager, Sohaib Sheikh, and General Manager, Kamil Khan, on Wednesday tendered their resignations as part of their career moves.

PCB Managing Director – Wasim Khan said: “We respect their decisions to move on for career purposes and we would like to place on record our thanks for their commitment and effort over the last four years. On behalf of PCB, we would also want thank them for their excellent contribution in the development of the Pakistan Super League, which is now one of the most respected domestic T20 leagues in the world”.

The recruitment process to fill these positions will start in due course.

https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-releas...partures-of-sohaib-sheikh-and-kamil-khan.html

 

[b.lesner]

What can the PCB possibly do? Why would people come out to watch our domestic cricketers. It's not like we have shahid afridis playing in the Pakistan Cup. The tickets have been made free. The cup is being televised. What else can they possibly do?

Remember when there was final of lahore qalander developmental program between layyah and sargodha whole gadafi staduim was filled, thats called marketing and there was no international cricketer

I bet 70% of cricket lovers in pakistan wouldn't know pakistan cup is happening, here we have 30+ international cricketers

Its pcb incompetency that international players are playing and no one is watching while no international players are playing in PDP of LQ but whole staduim is filled.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Changes and a clean-up operation in progress at the Pakistan Cricket Board as two senior officials depart from the PCB's marketing department <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1116599177046138880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Finally something is changing, starting from the top is a positive move.

 

[Abdullah719]

 

[Abdullah719]

Good turnout for the final, shows the potential for growth is very much there.

 

[Saj]

2 in the marketing team shown the door - more to come.

Wasim Khan and Ehsan Mani starting to sweep the brush.

 

[Hasan123]

Playing in front of big crowds is vital. The reason some of our players can’t deal with the pressure of international cricket is because they are often playing in games in domestic cricket where there is no crowd. Having no crowd can really take the intensity and pressure off the game.