Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again rejected departmental cricket in Pakistan and said that cricket at the level of associations would continue.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s firm stand on this position was disappointing for Misbah-ul-Haq, the head coach and chief selector of the Pakistani cricket team, Azhar Ali, the captain of the Test team and Muhammad Hafeez, the cricketer.
The trio met the Prime Minister in Islamabad on Wednesday, drawing their attention to the elimination of cricket teams from institutions and the consequent loss of cricketers.
The three cricketers had expressed their desire for the meeting, after which they were given time to meet the Prime Minister.
Hafeez had last week spoken openly about the negative effects of the abolition of departmental cricket, but the three players failed to persuade the Prime Minister to resume departmental cricket.
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After meeting the cricketers, Prime Minister Imran Khan, speaking at the signing ceremony of the Broadcasting Rights Agreement between the Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan Television, said that he had explained to Misbah-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez with great difficulty that The problem is that whenever you make reforms, it is difficult.
Citing the example of Australian cricket in this regard, Imran Khan said that cricket there is based on a strong structure and players emerge on merit and their abilities are honed.
Imran Khan said that despite the lack of system in Pakistan, talent is coming to the fore, so we need to fix this structure.
“The current cricket system will bring out the talent and create an atmosphere of competition,” he said. Good players emerge from tough competition.
Misbah, Azhar and Hafeez’s Position
Misbah-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez, who met Prime Minister Imran Khan, said that a large number of players were facing financial difficulties due to the abolition of departmental cricket.
The majority of these players have been on contract and now that the cricket teams of the institutions have been disbanded, these players have been sacked.
Cricketers who are permanently employed in these institutions have been asked to transfer to different departments and perform their duties and if they do not do so, they will lose their jobs.
Remember that Misbah-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez themselves play for Sui Northern Gas.
Misbah-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali and Muhammad Hafeez briefed the Prime Minister on the difficulties created by the abolition of departmental cricket.
These players say that by abolishing departmental cricket and restricting it to six first-class teams, a large number of players have also lost their ability to play cricket.
If cricket was to be based on the style of associations, then these cricketers should have been considered and an alternative plan should have come up.
The meeting also suggested that the Pakistan Cricket Board launch a first-class tournament this season based on cities so that the cricketers who have been left out of the teams of provincial associations can participate in it.
The Current Structure of Pakistan Cricket
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has abolished the role of institutions in domestic cricket in the light of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s directives and established it at the level of provincial associations.
It has been implemented since last year and domestic cricket is now played in the form of teams of six associations.
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However, the Pakistan Cricket Board has yet to find a significant sponsor for its first-class cricket and has to bear all the expenses itself, including the compensation paid to the cricketers and the salaries of the coaching staff.
PCB Signs Agreement With PTV
PCB has signed a three-year deal with Pakistan Television, which it claims will generate 200 million. The Pakistan Cricket Board says it earned 60 million in the last three years.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has also entered into an agreement with I-Media Communications Services for cable distribution.
The Pakstan Cricket Board says the broadcasting rights agreement is for Pakistan only. Broadcast rights for international areas will also be finalized soon.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Position On PTV
Speaking at the signing ceremony, PM Imran Khan said that the agreement would definitely bring in money but Pakistan Television has lagged behind the modern requirements for many reasons.
He said that there are recommended recruitments in PTV and people are afraid of investing money. When the business comes, the license fee will also be increased.
