Pakistan: DTMC decides on changes to Domestic schedule (13 October 1998)

13 October 1998

Pakistan: DTMC decides on changes to Domestic schedule

Our Sports Correspondent

LAHORE, Oct 12: The Domestic Tournament Monitoring Committee (DTMC) of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which met here at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Monday under the chairmanship of Mr S. Sirajul Islam Bukhari, has accepted the plea of departmental teams not to hold Quaid-i-Azam Trophyand Patron's Trophy simultaneously, says a PCB press release.

The Patrons Trophy which commences from Oct 17 will now be played at a stretch to be completed before the holy month of Ramazan. The remaining matches of Quaid-i-Azam Trophy will commence immediately after the holy month of Ramazan. Other members of DTMC who attended the meeting included M/s Mian Mohammad Munir, Azhar Zaidi, Fazle Habib, Ishtiaq Hussain, Javed Yousuf and A. Majeed Khan.

The DTMC has decided that only Tests and International umpires will conduct the first class matches of Patron's Trophy Grade I which includes mian Aslam, Javed Akhtar, Saleem Badar, Riazuddin, Athar Zaidi, Feroze Butt, Siddique Khan, Azhar Hussain, Islam Khan, Nazir Jr, Said Shah, Afzaal Ahmed, Iftikhar Malik, Rab Nawaz and Taufiq Khan. Rest of the Umpires will be posted in Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade I & II. Patron's Trophy Grade - II and Jr Cup Grade I. The committee decided to introduce promotion and demotion rule for umpires also on the basis of their performances and captains and referees report on umpires at the end of the season. The committee also instructed all the match referees to discharge their duties regularly and punctually and ensure their full time presence to watch every ball of the match in which they have been deputed. DTMC members volunteered themselves to check the same after random visits to various match centres. Such referees who were found not giving their full time and attention to their duties will be removed from PCB panel of match referees.

The DTMC considered the appeal filed by umpire Shakeel Khan and decided that he must regret his failure to attend the umpire refresher courses and undertake to attend a special course to update his knowledge on a number of changes in the standard playing conditions of cricket. Mr Mahboob Shah, former Test umpire will upgrade his knowledge in the special course after which he will be restored in the panel of first class umpires including Wills Patron's Trophy.

The committee took a strong view of the act of indiscipline by certain cricketers in National tournaments and has decided to introduce a "Red Card" system as applicable in other games in case both the uUmpires and match referee unanimously decide on the spot that the conduct of the cricketer is unbecoming of the game. He will not be allowed to take further part in the match straight away. Other actions including fines will be taken against the defaulting player afterwards as per existing rules. The committee was satisfied with the process of facial scrutiny of participating teams of Jr cup Grade I conducted by DTMC members. However, the committee decided that facial scrutiny of under-19 Cricketers from Mirpur Khas will be conducted again on Sunday 18th October at 11 a.m. at Niaz Stadium. Secretary Mirpur Khas Division has been asked to bring along his under-19 cricketers on this day. Each cricketer must carry with him 2 photographs, original birth and matric certificates, original B-forms and N.I.C of father. The committee decided that the competing teams will have to show all the original documents of their players to the match referee before each match of jr Cup Grade I. The match referee will be empowered to stop any team from participating in a match and award a walk over in case they fail to show their documents.

The committee scratched Sibbi Division for including overage cricketer Asif in their match against D.I. Khan show cause notice to secretary of Sibbi Division has been issued while Asif has been banned from playing in any class of cricket for 2 years. However, LCCA withdrew their protest against Gujranwala Division in the supreme interest completion of Jr Cup Grade II. The committee then fixed he semi-finals between Sargodha and Larkana at Sheikhupura and between Quetta and Gujranwala at Sahiwal simultaneously from Oct 29 to 31. The final of Jr Cup Grade II has been fixed for Nov 3-6 at Sheikhupura stadium. In order to avoid protest and objections in these penultimate matches the committee decided to conduct facial scrutiny of the cricketers of the 4 finalist teams on Oct 22 Oct at 11.00 a.m. simultaneously.

- Mr Fazle Habib will conduct Scrutiny at Gujranwala

- Mr Javed Yousuf will conduct Scrutiny at Sargodha

- Mr Majeed Khan will conduct Scrutiny at Larkana

- Mr Mian Mohammad Munir will conduct Scrutiny at Quetta.

The respective secretaries of associations have been asked to produce their cricketers who are due to participate in the semi-finals at the above venues alongwith the required documents.

The committee also decided to appoint match referees for Semi-finals and final of Jr Cup Grade II and in all matches of Jr Cup Grade I so as to maintain maximum discipline and minimize disputes.

The DTMC decided to retain WAPDA in Patron's Trophy Grade I accepting the plea that UBL team who did not take part in the Patron's Trophy last year stood demoted and no further team be demoted in 1997-98. However, the committee decided that 2 bottom teams of Patron's Trophy Grade I will be demoted after 1998-99 Season while only I team, the winner of Patron's Trophy Grade II will be promoted to Grade I.

The DTMC accepted the plea of Multan Division against their demotion in Grade I and plea of Hyderabad Division, the finalist of last Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade II to Grade I. The matter was referred to PCB Council for a final decision. However, both Hyderabad and Multan divisions were allowed to take part in Cup 1999.

The committee was also critical of non participation of certain full members of PCB in national tournaments and warned them to take part in Patron's Trophy Grade II failing which their case for suspension of membership of PCB will be referred to PCB Council.

The committee decided that since PCB has suspended the full membership of departments like NBP, HBL, PIA, ABL etc. the associations who do not have a ground in their jurisdiction to play their own matches, are also liable to such action against them. The DTMC therefore asked all such associations specially those which are full members to develop grounds in their own jurisdiction to play matches in national tournaments.

The DTMC also felt that the sponsors of Pakistan junior and senior cricket are not taking keen interest during the national tournaments. They were asked to come forward and support the domestic cricket for its betterment.

The committee instructed the umpires conducting matches in National tournaments to supervise club matches organised by their respective associations round the year failing which they will not be considered for future assignments in National tournaments.

The committee accepted the request of Grade I association teams to enter one additional team in Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade II in a supplementary group but they will not be entitled for participation fee PCB will only look after the umpire and scorers expenses for this group. However, they will not be entitled for promotion from Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade II to Grade I.

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)