The Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday presented a new look domestic structure to separate the departments and regions in domestic tournaments to improve the quality of cricket and to bring it at par with international standards. Director General PCB Javed Miandad unveiled the structure at a news conference here on at Gadaffi Stadium. Intikahab Alam, Zakir Khan and Shafiq Paba were also present on the occasion. Miandad said the new structure will create new bench marks in domestic cricket helping the cricketers to sharpen their skills and to show case their talent in a professional way just on the pattern of international cricket. He said the Patrons trophy has been renamed as “President’s Trophy grade one” in which only departments would be playing and the event will be played from October three at different centres across the country. “We have introduced a new structure after a thorough consideration after having input from different cricketing quarters which are related with the game and PCB committee finalized it keeping in view the ever growing needs at domestic level,” he asserted. Miandad said the new structure aims at enhancing the domestic cricket quality as the matches will be played on international standard facilities under the supervision of qualified technical officials and umpires. “All the participating teams will be equipped with full coaching staff and all the grounds will be of international standard and it is going to be a domestic event being played in an international manner,” he said. He said doping will be conducted on random basis during the matches and its samples would be sent abroad and anti corruption rules will also be implemented during the matches. “All these efforts aim at presenting an improved structure where cricket is being played in a way which ensures it high quality and standards,” he said adding” A committee comprising Intikhab Alam, Zakir Khan, Agha Zahid, Shafiq Papa and Saqib Irfan will be monitoring the entire domestic season to put up its recommendations for further improvement. A secret committee would also be functioning to have an overall look on the domestic circuit and will also be submitting its report to PCB . Miandad was of the view that by improving the domestic cricket quality they would be able to produce “quality cricketers” to serve the Pakistan cricket in a better and more professional way. He said Inter region U19 three day and one day tournaments will follow the Presidents trophy after which Quaid-e-Azam trophy will be played.
