Karachi:
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing stiff resistance from players and its affiliated departments and regions over a proposed domestic structure which is likely to be implemented this year.
The resistance has come in the form of dozens of players presently playing in the United Kingdom for clubs in different leagues, protesting the timing of the new domestic season.
Some Departments are even pondering going to court against the new structure.
The PCB had at its last General Body announced a new domestic structure with emphasis on less teams in the premier first class competition, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
The biggest change brought about the by the Board is that now while the top six departments and six regions will directly qualify for the Quaid Trophy two departmental teams and two regions will qualify after appearing in a qualifying non-first class three day matches tournament for which the Board has announced dates.
According to the schedule, the qualifying tournament will begin from August 1, something unheard of in Pakistan’s domestic season as it normally starts in mid September with the first class events.
Many of the players presently employed on contracts in England have complained if they are forced to return home to play in the qualifying event their employers/clubs will not offer them contracts from next year.
“It is understandable because if we return midway obviously these clubs are not going to be happy and they will look for overseas professionals from other countries which will badly affect our livelihood,” one player said.
He said the English season ended around mid-September. “If we lose this chance to earn abroad how will we manage because there is no real money for domestic players in Pakistan,” another player said.
