Cost-effective Pakistan season gets underway

Pakistan's domestic structure has been constantly transforming over the past decade, with change occurring every two years. But this year the season's format has remained consistent from the previous year, though the calendar is tightly planned for better financial viability. Two major first-class tournaments will run simultaneously while two List A events happen concurrently. Besides making it financially cost effective, the season has been ideally planned to stop mixing top departmental players with the regional teams in order to allow more young players to feature for the regional sides. If executed efficiently, this calendar could eventually allow an increase in the quantity of first-class cricketers in the country.

Last year, the re-structuring of the domestic structure centered around the President's Trophy, the country's new premier first-class tournament, with the eminence of the Quaid-e-Azam trophy fading. Previously the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy was the nucleus of the first-class competition in the country, comprising 22 teams (13 regional and nine department teams) in two divisions, based on a promotion and relegation system. It was revamped last year by separating regional and departmental cricket, creating two first-class events with equal quality. This structure has created a sense of stability and promoted a competitive spirit, with the top teams in the President's Trophy playing against a mixture of tough opponents rather than the rookie cricketers of the region. Players who might have failed in the President's Trophy, made their way into the regional teams to work on their deficiencies.

This year, the board has planned both events concurrently to maintain a balance in the levels of competition. The number of teams in the President's Trophy has been increased from 10 to 11 with Pakistan Television being promoted to Grade1 cricket. Eleven departmental teams will play a round-robin league phase, with the top two teams making the final.

As many as 350 players are registered to feature in the 14 teams in QEA, while around 220 player are signed with the various 11 department teams. The 14 regional teams will field only local and non-departmental players. Teams in QEA will be divided in two groups - the top eight will be in a super-eight group while the remaining six teams will play a plate league. The two top teams from super eights will play the final. Either way, each team will at least play nine matches. Once a prime means for players to earn national call-up, QEA is no more relevant in that regard.