First ever BoGs meeting at Peshawar: PCB chief hopes city cricket to develop game quality

PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani said on Tuesday introducing city cricket in more than 90 cities across Pakistan would help develop quality game and provide an opportunity to new players.

Talking to reporters after attending the 57th Board of Governors meeting of the PCB held for the first time in Peshawar, he said it was the big achievement that Sri Lankan Cricket Board had a series with Pakistan and Bangladesh Cricket Board had agreed to send team to play two tests, one One Day International and three T20s. He said the visit would revive the Test cricket in Pakistan after a long time and more international cricket matches would be played in Pakistan.

Ehsan Mani praised the BoG for acknowledging PCB efforts in getting cricket in Pakistan back on track. He said generating revenue in the face of extreme challenges was another big achievement of the PCB. “Had we failed in our efforts with the media rights partner, we would have earned nothing as the tour could have been potentially canceled and our endeavors for the resumption of the Test cricket derailed,” he pointed out.

The PCB chief said six to seven cities of the merged districts had been included in the City Cricket Association. The areas with 12 to 15 playing clubs is fulfilling the criteria to be part of City Cricket Association, he said. He said it is very encouraging that talent is merging from KP including the recently merged tribal areas. Head coach and chief selector Misbahul Haq briefed the BoG members about team.

He dwelt at length on the players’ fitness, domestic cricket, event scheduling, team preparation, selection criteria, future plans. The PCB chairman said the BoG appreciated the efforts of Misbah and acknowledged that he was operating in a challenging environment. Ehsan Mani said he held meeting with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan who assured that the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium would attract more international cricket to Pakistan soon after the completion of renovation work. The PCB chief recalled that they have signed a MoU in 2017 with the Directorate of Sports KP for establishing of National Cricket Academy. However, the work on it would be launched after the renovation of the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium. Ihsan Mani said an academy for women would be established for which talks were in progress with Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University but so far no progress has been made. “I will look into it and even ask them to expedite correspondence with the PCB,” he said.

He said PCB was able to hold all the Pakistan Super League matches in Pakistan. After home series against Bangladesh Melbourne Cricket Club is touring Pakistan and it would help bringing more international cricket, he argued. Ihsan Mani said the BoG approved the Model Constitution for City Cricket Associations, which is in harmony with the PCB Constitution 2019 and Model Constitution for Cricket Associations.