PCB looks for ways to revitalizing domestic cricket

PCB looks for ways to revitalizing domestic cricket

Chairman Mohsin Naqvi leads pivotal meeting

Asher Butt 

The Pakistan Cricket Board money initiated efforts in a significant stride towards enhancing the caliber of domestic cricket.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi chaired a comprehensive three-hour meeting at the National Cricket Academy discussing pros and cons and looking into several ways to improve the domestic edifice. The session was dedicated to devising strategies for bolstering the foundations of domestic cricket.

The meeting saw the convergence of key PCB figures, including COO Salman Naseer and CFO Javed Murtaza, alongside directors overseeing various cricketing domains such as International Cricket, High Performance Centers, and Domestic Cricket. The assembly also included officials from PSL and Commercial sectors.

Naqvi, presided over the discussion to address the quality of domestic cricket with focus on strategies to enhance and strengthen the base across all levels.

Promotion of Quality Domestic Cricket: Chairman Naqvi emphasized the need for consistent organization of tournaments from the club level to the national level. The goal is to ensure a steady flow of competitive cricket, grooming players at every stage of their development.

Professional Grooming of Promising Players: Chairman Naqvi stressed the importance of professional training for promising players. Excellent coaches will be tasked with enhancing the skills of new talent, ensuring that performance, fitness, and merit are the primary criteria for player advancement.

Improvement in Coaching Standards: The meeting resolved to improve the standard of coaching for the upcoming domestic cricket season. A master coach will be appointed to train domestic cricket coaches, ensuring that they can effectively develop players' skills and fitness.

Mandatory Participation in Domestic Tournaments: It was decided that players must participate in domestic cricket tournaments to be considered for national team selection. This ensures that selection for the national team is based strictly on performance and fitness showcased in domestic events.

Zero Compromise on Merit, Performance, and Fitness: The participants reached a mutual agreement to maintain high standards with no compromises on merit, performance, and fitness.

Tournaments Across All Formats: To promote quality domestic cricket in the 2024-25 season, tournaments will be held for all three formats of the game.

Grassroots Talent Development: Chairman Naqvi highlighted the urgent need to unearth new talent at the grassroots level. Investing in grassroots cricket is expected to yield positive results and promote cricket from the ground up.

Review of International Best Practices: The meeting also included a review of domestic cricket structures from various high-performing cricket nations to identify and adopt best practices.

The gathering resolved to uplift coaching standards in the forthcoming domestic season and reassess domestic contracts. The introduction of a ‘master coach’ role is set to enhance the training of domestic coaches. A consensus was reached on the imperative that players’ participation in domestic tournaments is essential for national team consideration, with selection criteria being firmly rooted in domestic performance and fitness.

A unanimous commitment was made to uphold meritocracy, with plans laid out for tournaments across all formats in the 2024-25 season. The chairman underscored the urgency of scouting fresh talent at the grassroots level, asserting that investing in nascent prospects is key to fostering cricket from the ground up.

The meeting concluded with a principled approval of the plan aimed at promoting quality domestic cricket, underlining the PCB's commitment to strengthening the sport at every level.