Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia has approved the new domestic structure in Pakistan Cricket to bring it in line with the new devolution plan of Federal Government.

The decision was taken at a high level meeting held at PCB Headquarters Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, on Wednesday, in which the Management Committee of the PCB had submitted its proposals for the new structure which will become effective from the coming season (2001-2002).

Under the new system, which was unfolded on Wednesday by the Vice Chairman of Management Committee, Iqbal Qasim, the concept of regional cricket has been introduced for the first time besides expanding the scope of competition on a truly national level.

To start with, PCB had inducted 7 new districts including AJK, FATA and Northern Areas, which played along with 27 old Districts and Divisions in the last season. This year another 20 districts having cricket set-up or infrastructure available are given playing rights in PCB Under-19 and Quaid-e-Azam Grade-II (Regional Rounds). Thus 54 districts will take part in the new domestic format. 44 Districts who could not be given playing rights this year due to the lack of infrastructure or cricketing base, have been grouped with districts having playing rights, keeping in view their proximity. In all, 98 districts will participate in domestic Cricket.(Comparison) (Detail)

Since the Domestic format is being re-structured and in order to broaden the base of domestic cricket no Department or Association team has been relegated from Grade-I to Grade-II of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Patron Trophy and Under-19 this year. However, the Departments or Associations which had earned their promotions by virtue of qualifying for finals in PCB Grade-II Cricket tournament last season have been promoted to Grade-I and allowed to play Grade-I Cricket.

PCB Under-19: The domestic season will commence with PCB Under-19 (Grade-I and Grade-II) from 1st September 2001 all over the country. Players born on or after 1st September 1982 shall be eligible to take part. Twelve teams namely LCCA (W), LCCA (B), KCCA (W), KCCA (B), Bahawalpur, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Kohat will take part in PCB U-19 Grade-I (One-day matches tagged with 3-day matches) in two groups. The remaining districts will play in PCB Under-19 Grade-II tournament in 2-day matches on group league basis in regional rounds. However, the Semi Final and Final will be played between the Regional Champions and duration will be 3 days (details are attached).

Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade-II: The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade-II will be played on the same pattern with new districts as PCB Under-19 Grade-II tournament with 2-day matches. The Semi Finals and Final will be played between the Regional Champions and the duration will be 3 days (details are attached).

Rest XI teams of Provinces: The outstanding performers of districts in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade-II in regional rounds have also been allowed to play first class cricket in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade-I this season through their selection in Rest of Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan and NWFP-FATA-Azad Kashmir XI. These four "Rest XI" sides will be selected by the Regional Selection Committee nominated by PCB for each province as under:

Punjab: Masood Anwar (Khanewal), Arshad Pervaiz, Amir Malik and Ashraf Ali

Sindh: Brig. (R) Salah-ud-Din and Anwar Khan

NWFP: Farrukh Zaman and Jalil (Noushera)

Baluchistan: Mansoor Akhtar and Abdul Raqeeb

Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade-I: The blue ribband of Pakistan's domestic cricket will be participated by 18 teams from Assocations namely, LCCA (W), LCCA (B), KCCA (W), KCCA (B), Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Hyderabad, Sheikhupura and "Rest XI" of provincial teams. The teams would be divided into 2 groups and the leader of each group will play the final.

Patron's Trophy Grade-I and II: PPWD and Sui Gas Cricket teams who were the finalists of last year's Patron's Trophy Grade-II will play in Patron's Trophy Grade-I which enjoys the status of first class cricket along with eight departmental teams of the last season on single league as under:

NBP, PIA, HBL, ABL, ADBP, WAPDA, CUSTOMS, PAK PWD, KRL & SUI GAS

National One-day Tournament: There will be only one composite National One-day Cricket Tournament to be fought jointly by 10 Departments and 18 Associations including 4 Rest XI of Provincial teams of QAT & PAT Grade-I in two stages i.e. preliminary and the final rounds. The semi-finals and final will be played under floodlights as far as possible.

Cash Incentives: In order to give incentives to the participating teams and outstanding cricketers of domestic tournaments a good number of attractive cash awards and win bonuses amounting to Rs. One million approximately, will be given away according to the list attached. In case PCB is able to get a sponsor then these awards will be named after the sponsors otherwise PCB will itself bear all the expenses involved.(Prize Money)

It may not be out of place to mention here that during the last domestic season, 404 aggregate of matches were played while during this season 456 matches will be played, including a total of 118 First Class matches. The domestic season starting from 1st September 2001 will close on 31st March 2001. Provisions have been made for organizing the Super League One-day matches during December 20, 2001 to January 2, 2002 and Super league 4-day matches after 31st March 2002.

We therefore look forward for a very hectic and productive domestic season apart from a very busy schedule of Tests and ODI series in Pakistan including the Asian Test Championship matches.

Khalid Butt
Media Manager
18 July 2001

© PCB