Former players have urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to focus on improving the standard of domestic events in the country before the next season instead of investing its energy on the return of international cricket.
The PCB had formed a task team, headed by director game development and cricket operations (international) Intikhab Alam, in order to improve and revamp the structure of domestic cricket. However, nearly three months later the committee’s recommendations are still pending approval from the PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf.
Former fast-bowler Jalaluddin, who claimed the first hat-trick in One-Day Internationals, said that this was the ‘perfect time’ to revamp the domestic circuit.
“The season has been wrapped up,” Jalal told The Express Tribune. “Now, we’re heading into a new one and this is the perfect time to make changes because it will give breathing space to the PCB officials. Previously, changes were made in haste – without weighing the pros and cons – when the season was underway and that’s one of the reasons we have not been able construct a proper structure after so many years. Hence, our cricket has suffered.”
The former pacer added that the poor standard of domestic cricket has been a cause of embarrassment for Pakistan players at the international stage ‘since the difference in quality was clearly visible’.
The task force had suggested increasing the number of departmental and regional teams and staging the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy in two separate groups – departments going head to head in one, while regions competing in the other pool. However, Jalal said that the suggestion will not improve things due to the lack of quality players in the domestic arena.
“They need to be merged to make the tournament more competitive. The contracts of domestic cricketers should be improved as well and the PCB should facilitate 200 players instead of taking care of just 16 national team members.”
Zaheer echoes Jalal’s sentiments
Meanwhile, Zaheer Abbas, a member of the task force, backed Jalal’s thoughts and said the focus should be shifted to domestic cricket now.
“It’s sad that the return of international cricket has been delayed but now the board should look at domestic cricket,” said Zaheer.
While a number of task teams have been formed and several recommendations put forward, nothing has been implemented with very little being practically achieved. However, Zaheer said that the suggestions will be respected this time around.
“This will not be the case now. I say this because when the chairman has made a committee then it shows that he means business. I am hopeful that our suggestions will be implemented sooner or later.”
Reminiscing about the past, the former batsman added that county cricket has always helped players and minimised the gap between the standard of international and domestic cricketers. But, Zaheer added that there are lesser opportunities for first-class players to feature for county teams and that has badly affected their potential to become better.
Zaheer Abbas
“It’s sad that return of international cricket has been delayed but now the board should look at domestic cricket. The chairman has made a committee and that shows that he means business. I am hopeful that our suggestions will be implemented sooner or later.”
Jalaluddin
“This is the perfect time to make changes because it will give breathing space to the PCB officials. Previously, changes were made in haste – without weighing the pros and cons – and that’s one of the reasons we have not been able construct a proper structure.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2012.
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Our former cricketers are more intelligent than Zaka Ashraf. He seems clueless working tirelessly without any direction. I think they are right now PCB should focus on domestic cricket.