New Delhi: Pakistan were forced to suspend its national junior championship a day after its commencement while the country’s cricket board is yet to prepare match schedule for its premier T20 tournament as the country’s cricket remains in doldrums.
Apart from early exits from ODI and T20 World Cups, reports of ego battles in dressing rooms and change in captaincy, now the Pakistan Cricket Board had to suspend the junior national championship that began on Tuesday.
Three games were played across venues on the first day but on Wednesday the PCB said sue to “unavoidable circumstances” they had to suspend the games.
The postponement of the U-19 tournament were informed to teams after the first day’s play. Though the PCB didn’t immediately offer an explanation, PTI reported that multiple complaints over team selections and age fudging was the reason behind the decision.
The report said the complaints compelled PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi to act.
“The junior tournament is considered the backbone for producing the right talent for first class cricket and international exposure by the board which is why despite a long process of selection, Mohsin Naqvi was disturbed when he received a number of complaints, some of which were authenticated to be correct,” PTI quoted the insider as saying.
The PCB also pushed back the start of the national women’s U-19 tournament, which was slated to begin from September 16.
PSL fixture woes
The PCB is also struggling to finalise schedule of the Pakistan Cuper League as consensus continues to elude all stake holders, including team owners.
Since Pakistan will host the ICC Champions Trophy in February-March, the PSL has to be shifted to a new window, potentially clashing with the Indian Premier League, whoch is held in April-May every year.
The teams are yet to get their share of money from the central revenue pool of last year’s PSL, which was marred by poor attendance at some venues.
“Holding the PSL in the same window as the IPL is a huge risk and the main issue could be availability of premium players, plus eyeballs on TV and digital media for the PSL matches,” an official with a franchise told PTI.
Pakistan cricket is going through testing times with controversies erupting on multiple fronts Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
