Daily Times

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has once again decided to tinker with the scheduling of domestic cricket matches. According to media reports, PCB is now keen on reverting to its old formula of holding four-day Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches followed by One-day Cup matches – for every round. The same venue will be used for both the formats. It must be noted that a similar structure was also used in 2014 but it was scrapped next season because it failed to deliver in accordance with the expectations.

The change in schedule has meant that players, who are currently involved in county cricket in England, will have to leave their commitments unfulfilled and return home early because the departments have issued a deadline of August 15 for players to report at the team camp. As a result the players will suffer from a deduction in their payments as they will go against their contractual obligations. The decision may also result in hampering the players’ chances of securing a new contract next season as the county sides are reluctant about signing players who can’t stay for the agreed period of time. The PCB has asked the departments to submit a list of 25 players who will be featuring for the side along with the members of the support staff – which includes batting and bowling coaches, trainer and physiotherapist. The domestic season will start from September 1, unlike last year when it began on September 26.

Published in Daily Times, July 27^th 2018.