The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday reverted to its earlier construction of home cricket which included departmental and regional groups, whereas additionally including one other First-Class competitors to the calendar.
The choice to maneuver again to the outdated system means Pakistan cricket authorities have finished away with the “high quality over amount” philosophy, applied on the directions of former Prime Minister and 1992 World Cup successful captain Imran Khan.
The PCB experimented with having home cricket with six groups for the final three years.
The 2023-24 home season will function two separate First-Class occasions — the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the Presidents Cup — with a complete of 16 departmental and regional groups within the fray.
The board may even organise non First-Class occasions for 10 regional groups and extra departments within the season.
In 2019, Khan’s proposal for a brand new home system had scrapped the position of the departmental groups in Pakistan cricket.
Solely six areas have been allowed to compete within the premier First-Class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, whereas the second XIs of the identical groups competed in a non First-Class match concurrently.
The board, with none sponsorship for the brand new construction, instantly paid the gamers their match charges, allowances and month-to-month contracts in addition to air journey and keep in premier inns.
The plan proposed by Khan was applied and adopted by former chairman Ehsan Mani and Ramiz Raja, and had are available in for loads of criticism for ending departmental cricket, which has been the spine of Pakistan cricket because the Nineteen Seventies.
Not solely the previous PM, however the board was additionally criticised for costing a whole lot of cricketers their jobs with departmental groups.
Within the new home construction introduced on Friday, the board mentioned the 2023-24 home season will deliver extra competitors and high quality cricket with enhanced incomes alternatives.
The system will now have eight regional sides and as many departmental groups competing in separate First-Class tournaments.
“This step will ensure that the areas and departments compete on a degree taking part in discipline by utilising the perfect out there expertise,” an announcement mentioned.
The board mentioned the home construction is framed by the PCB Cricket Technical Committee, which is headed by former captains Misbah-ul-Haq and contains Mohammad Hafeez.
“The committee had a number of conferences with all stakeholders to deliver them on board, together with regional presidents and representatives of departments,” the discharge mentioned.
Pakistan’s home season will begin on September 10 with the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, pitting high regional groups in opposition to one another, following which, the highest eight departments will function within the President’s Trophy, beginning December 15.
The 2 tournaments can be performed on a single-league foundation and the desk toppers will play the ultimate.
The 18 regional sides have been slotted with eight groups taking part in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, whereas 10 areas can be taking part in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy, a non First-Class four-day match.
The board has renamed the non First-Class occasion as a tribute to one among Pakistan’s best batters.
PCB knowledgeable that 40 departmental and financial institution sides had registered for the upcoming season.
The board additionally introduced white-ball Checklist A and T20 occasions for the areas, with all 18 areas that includes within the T20 championship.
PCB added that departments may even play a white-ball match, the main points of which can be introduced later.